Bird Rock Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is the full picture for Bird Rock, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are definitely some moments to get excited about if you’re patient.

We’re starting off on Thursday, August 20th, with tiny, clean waves. The swell is only 1ft from the southwest, with a period of 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which gives the wave some shape, but there’s just not enough size to do much on. The NW wind is offshore and light, so the surface is glassy. The water temp is sitting at 56°, which is pretty normal for this time of year. Energy is weak at 128. It’s a surfable but very ordinary day.

Friday, August 21st, the swell bumps up a little. Friday morning sees 3ft from the southwest, but the wind is cross-offshore from the WNW, and it’s clean. The energy is moderate at 396. Friday afternoon looks nicer though – the swell drops back to 2ft, but the wind turns offshore and light, making for clean, gentle conditions. Not a standout, but a nice session if you’re desperate.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday, August 22nd, is a big spike. We’ve got 12ft of southwest swell rolling in. That’s a lot of water. The period is around 14-15 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. The wind is cross-offshore from the west, so it’ll be clean. But listen, with that size, this is for experts only. Over 8ft, and the power is serious. The combined energy is 7167 (very strong). The swell direction matches the optimum for this reef – straight out of the southwest. Bird Rock is a reef, so that long-period energy will really stand it up. This is your standout if you’ve got the skills and the nerve. Expect big, powerful sets.

Sunday, August 23rd, the swell drops back down to a much more manageable 5ft, still from the southwest. The period hangs around 14-16 seconds. The wind goes light offshore from the WNW, making for excellent conditions. The water will be clean and the waves will have proper shape. The combined energy is still moderate to strong at 1181-1563. This is a great day for competent surfers. For the afternoon session, it’s described as excellent for experienced surfers.

Monday, August 24th, we see 4ft southwest swell, with a moderate offshore wind from the NW. It’s clean, but the energy drops back to moderate (around 475). It’s a good day, but nothing to write home about after the weekend blast.

Tuesday, August 25th, things go a bit sideways. The morning has a cross-shore wind from the southwest, and the swell is 5ft, but the wave state is described as having a cross-chop. Not great. The afternoon gets worse with strong cross-onshore winds from the SSW, turning it choppy. Poor conditions.

Wednesday, August 26th, morning is a hidden gem. Look: 3ft southwest swell with glassy conditions! The wind is a light glass-off from the SSW. That is a rare and perfect clean window. The waves will be small, but if you have a log or a fish, paddle out first thing. That glass is a major positive.

The rest of the week into the end of August and early September is a bit of a lull. Waves are small, mostly under 3ft, with inconsistent conditions and some fresh winds. There’s a gap here with nothing recommendable.

But hold on. Look ahead to Friday, September 4th. Another solid spike. We see 6ft of southwest swell, period around 16 seconds, and a consistent offshore wind from the northwest. The combined energy is strong at 1552. This is the second standout of the forecast. The swell is big but not giant – over 5ft, so it might be too much for beginners, but for experienced surfers, this is going to be excellent. Good shape, good power, clean faces. That’s your best bet in the second week.

Crowds at Bird Rock are a potential issue, particularly if it’s this good. The crowd rating says “sometimes,” so be ready to share the peak.

Alright, overall: This isn’t a flat spell, but you’ve got to pick your windows. The absolute standout is Saturday, August 22nd for the big-wave experts. The best all-around session in terms of size and quality is Sunday, August 23rd. And for a sneaky, clean small-wave session, hit Wednesday, August 26th morning. The long-range Friday, September 4th looks promising too.

Stay safe out there.

Rusty

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