Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Howdy, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Bird Rock. This reef break is set to fire up over the next couple of weeks, but it’s going to be a slow burn with a few real standout moments.

The overall pattern kicks off with a solid, long-period groundswell from the southwest. Friday the 7th is a proper start to the run – clean, clear skies, a light offshore breeze, and waves around 3.6 ft to 3.3 ft. The swell energy is moderate (576), but that 15 to 16 second period means the waves will have good shape and power. A light breeze and glassy conditions will make for some tidy, lined-up sets. This is great for advanced surfers, and it’s a fairly consistent spot, so you’ll get your share.

Saturday the 8th sees the swell holding, but the wind picks up to 12-16 mph from the north-northeast. It’s still cross-offshore, so it’s rideable, but the breeze is a bit strong. The energy stays moderate (around 492). It’s a “marginal” call, but not a write-off.

Sunday the 9th is a write-off. Strong 22 mph winds and a dropping swell make for poor conditions. Save your energy.

Monday the 10th is where things get interesting. The swell ticks up to 4.3 ft, but the real story is the energy – it jumps to 1147, a solid jump into moderate-to-strong territory. That’s a big pulse of power from the southwest with a 19-second period. This is a true groundswell. The catch is the wind is gusty from the west-southwest at 19-22 mph, making it a cross-offshore breeze. It’s “marginal” for surf quality, but for experienced surfers, that energy is tempting. The wave direction and period are lining up perfectly with the break’s optimum. This is a “promising but less certain” call for the week ahead.

Tuesday the 11th is a step back. The wind is howling again from the north-northwest, and the swell drops. The energy falls to 640. Not your day.

Wednesday the 12th is a better bet. The swell climbs back to 3.9 ft to 4.6 ft, and the energy is up to 728 in the morning, peaking at 1359 in the afternoon. The wind is offshore from the west-northwest in the morning, and cross-offshore in the afternoon. It’s still a “marginal” call, but that offshore wind in the morning will clean it up nicely. This is one of the better windows in the first week.

Now, here’s the big one. Thursday the 13th. The afternoon is a monster. A 14.8 ft swell from the west-southwest with a 16-second period, and the combined energy is a staggering 11082. That’s very strong wave energy. The wind is a moderate 12 mph from the west, cross-offshore. This is a major event for Bird Rock. The wave height is over 8 ft, so this is strictly for experts. The reef will handle it, but it will be a serious challenge. The score is high, and it’s the standout of the entire 16-day run. If you’re an experienced surfer, this is the session to aim for. The morning is also solid with 7.9 ft swell and 2712 energy, but the afternoon is the peak.

Friday the 14th keeps the swell up at 6.6 ft to 6.9 ft, with 2319 energy. The morning is clean with a gentle offshore breeze, making for “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers.” The afternoon turns cross-shore and choppy, so get in early.

The weekend of the 15th and 16th sees the swell drop back to 3.6 ft to 5.6 ft, but the wind turns onshore from the south and southeast. The energy drops to 1006 and then 578. It’s “marginal” and a bit choppy. Not a great time.

Monday the 17th is a hidden gem. The swell is small at 3.0 ft, but the wind goes glassy – a light, variable breeze from the east-southeast. The energy is 373, and the conditions are “glassy” and “good.” For a smaller wave session on a clean reef, this is a classic. The wind is nearly dead calm. This is a beautiful, quiet session.

Tuesday the 18th is another glassy moment in the afternoon, with 2.3 ft swell and 527 energy, and a clean, glassy surface. The morning has a light offshore breeze. Two good small-wave windows back-to-back.

Wednesday the 19

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