Emma Wood State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the local stretch for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough run. We’re looking at a long, quiet spell with nothing really doing for the surf. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until the 31st of July, and honestly, even that’s a struggle. The water’s sitting at about 71°F which is over 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a big anomaly, feels like a warm bath out there.

So, Emma Wood State Beach (Ventura) is your only option in the whole window, and it’s a real mixed bag. It’s a beach and reef setup, fairly consistent, but the swell is tiny. We’re talking barely 2ft from the SSW on Friday morning, with a period of 14 seconds. The combined swell energy is weak (220). It’s a long-period groundswell for sure, which might help shape, but it’s just too small to get excited about. The wind is a light onshore breeze, which isn't helping the cause.

The whole first week into early August is grim. Through Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd, the swell stays under 2ft, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore or light onshore. The combined energy drops into the low triple digits (141 to 147). It’s basically a flat spell with a side of chop.

Things get even smaller from Monday the 3rd through to the 6th of August. Swell heights bottom out at 1.0ft, periods are short to middling, and the combined energy is in the weak double digits (53 to 92). The wind is still a problem – mostly light cross-onshore or onshore. You’d be better off with a kite than a paddle if you’re desperate for a thrill.

Around the 7th of August, we see a bit of a shift. The swell direction swings to the SSW, and the period jumps way up to 19 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell. The combined energy climbs back into the moderate range (119 to 133). Still, the wave height is only 1.0ft. It’s a tease. That long period will be working against the beach break, making it straight and hard to catch. You’d need a point or reef, but this is a beach and reef spot, so it’s a gamble.

The same story plays out from the 8th through to the 10th of August. Moderate energy (102 to 145), but the swell is still 1ft max. The wind stays light and mostly onshore, which is about the only positive. The water temp anomaly is the only thing that’s truly “much warmer than normal” here.

The final run from the 11th to the 15th of August is more of the same. We see the combined energy spike up to 199 on the 14th, and we get a few 2ft to 2ft swells with periods of 16 to 19 seconds. The wind is often light onshore mornings, but it gets cross-onshore and choppier in the afternoons, especially on the 14th and 15th when it’s a moderate breeze. For a beginner, anything over 5ft is a no-go, but we never get close to that. For an expert, anything over 8ft is the zone, and we’re miles away.

If I’m being honest, there’s not a single standout here. The best on offer is probably the 7th and 8th of August, when that long-period groundswell gives a bit of energy, and the wind is light. But it’s tiny. Everything else is a write-off. It’s a blank run, and for this area, it’s just one of those quiet times. It won’t stay poor forever, but for now, leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

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