Corona Del Mar Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a hard look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch. The forecast is looking pretty flat and uninspiring for the vast majority of the period. We’ve got a long gap of mostly poor conditions straight through from Wednesday, August 19th, all the way to early next week. There’s a few days where the numbers nudge up just enough to be called "marginal," but nothing that’s going to get you sprinting for the car. The wind is almost always cross or cross-on, which just adds a bit of chop and takes the shine off whatever small, low-energy swell is showing up.

Let’s talk about the water. Over at Corona Del Mar Jetty, the water temp is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. It’s not a huge anomaly, but it’s noticeable – you might not even need a spring suit for the morning sessions.

The best bet in this whole 16-day window looks like it’s going to be Saturday, August 29th, and Sunday, August 30th, but even then, it’s not a home run. On Saturday, August 29th, we’ve got a bump in the swell. The morning shows a 3ft SSW swell with a solid 17-second period, which is a nice long-period groundswell. The combined energy jumps to 568 (moderate), which is about as good as it gets in this forecast. The wind is light and cross-shore, which is a major positive. This is the one to aim for if you’re desperate for a paddle. That afternoon, the swell ticks up to 4ft from the same direction, with energy at 646 (moderate), and the wind stays light and cross-shore. It’s still a marginal call, but it’s the cleanest window we’ve got.

Sunday, August 30th, the morning still has a 4ft SSW swell, but the wind turns cross-on, which is a bit of a bummer. It’s still the second-best option, but it won’t be as clean as Saturday.

The rest of the week after that trails off again. By the time we hit the first week of September, it’s back to poor surf conditions with onshore winds. So, if you’re a beginner, anything over 5ft is a no-go, and we don’t even get close to that. The waves we do see are small, so it’s more of a longboard or a funboard kind of deal. The long-period nature of the Saturday swell means it’ll have some push and shape, but at a breakwater setup like this, it should still be rideable.

In short, mark your calendar for Saturday, August 29th. That’s your standout. Everything else is a write-off, or at best, a gamble. The forecast can always change, but right now, it’s slim pickings.

Rusty.

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