Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ out at Bird Rock.

First off, the water is sittin' at 56°F right now, which is bang on average for this time of year—nothing weird there. The overall pattern for the next couple of weeks is pretty solid, with a few real standout windows.

We’ve got a bit of swell on the way starting Monday the 24th of August. The morning sees a 4ft SSW swell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is a solid 554 (moderate). It’s cloudy with a cross-off NNW breeze at 9 mph, so it’ll be clean. The afternoon drops to 3ft but the wind goes light and keeps it cross-off. Not a huge day, but a decent way to start.

Tuesday the 25th is a bit of a mixed bag. Morning has mod rain and a cross-on wind at 9 mph, which makes it choppy despite the 4ft SW swell. The afternoon cleans up nicely though—light WSW breeze at 6 mph, cross-off, 4ft SW swell at 13 seconds. That’s a good session.

Wednesday the 26th is a write-off. The morning is cross-shore and messy, and the afternoon gets a 5ft SW swell but with a 12 mph cross-on wind and choppy conditions. Not worth paddling out.

Thursday the 27th is small but clean. Both morning and afternoon have offshore NW winds, glassy or clean, with 3ft and 2ft SSW swell. Very ordinary conditions, but if you’re desperate for a longboard, it’s doable.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 28th of August is a true standout. The morning is clean with a 3ft SW swell but a period of 18 seconds—that’s a very long-period groundswell, and it’s got a combined energy of 625 (moderate). The afternoon is even better: glassy, 4ft SW swell at 16 seconds, and the energy is 706. That’s the pick of the first week. The long period will make for some nice lines at this reef, and the glassy conditions will have it looking like a mirror.

Saturday the 29th is a morning-only show. Glassy, 3ft SW swell at 14 seconds, clean. The afternoon turns onshore and messy, so get out early.

Sunday the 30th has a glassy morning with 2ft SSW swell at 18 seconds—very long period again, energy at 438. The afternoon goes onshore and gets a 4ft swell, but it’s messy.

Monday the 31st of August is the other big standout. The morning is offshore NW wind at 6 mph, 6ft SW swell at 17 seconds, and a combined energy of 1717 (strong). That’s a solid groundswell with excellent conditions for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays clean with a cross-off 5ft SW swell. If you’re an advanced surfer, this is your day.

The first week of September keeps things ticking. Tuesday the 1st has offshore winds and 4ft SW swell, clean. Wednesday the 2nd is also clean, with the morning at 3ft and the afternoon at 4ft SW swell at 16 seconds, energy hitting 1050 (strong). Very good conditions.

Friday the 4th of September afternoon is another cracker. Offshore NW wind, 6ft WSW swell at 16 seconds, and a combined energy of 2383 (strong). That’s excellent for experienced surfers.

The second week is more of a mixed bag. The winds get stronger—19 to 22 mph offshore from the NW on the 6th, 7th, and 8th—but the swell is there. The 6th afternoon has a 5ft SW swell at 16 seconds with fresh offshore wind, but it’s marginal. The 7th and 8th are similar, with clean but wind-affected conditions. Smaller swells by the 8th, around 2ft to 4ft. Not the best, but if you’re after a wind-smooth session, it’s possible.

Bird Rock is a reef break, fairly exposed to the SW swell, and it’s fairly consistent. Crowds are possible here sometimes. The optimum swell direction is from the SW, and most of the good swells are coming from that direction, so it’s all lining up nicely.

Alright, that’s what I’ve got. Stay salty.

Rusty.

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