Hermosa Beach and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk surf for our area. I gotta be honest, the next couple of weeks are looking small and a bit of a grind. There are a few clean windows, but you’ll need to work around the afternoon winds.

Most of the time, the wave energy is weak, with combined swell energy numbers mostly in the low 200s to 300s – nothing exciting. That’s pretty normal for this time of year, so don’t chuck your board in the garage just yet.

The water temp at Hermosa Beach and Pier is a balmy 72°, which is a whopping 6° warmer than usual for late August. Feels like a warm bath.

The first worthwhile session is on Thursday, 27th August. The morning has some clouds, a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 6 mph, and clean conditions. But the swell is tiny: 2 ft from the south, with a 12-second period. That long period helps, but at this size, it’s strictly longboard or funboard territory. The combined energy is only 216 (weak). It’s something to do, but not a standout.

We then hit a dry spell of poor conditions and choppy afternoons. Saturday morning the 29th has a bit more juice – 3 ft from the SSW, 17-second period, and a combined energy of 445 (moderate). But the wind is a light cross-on from the SW at 3 mph, leaving it bumpy. It’s a maybe.

The real highlight of the first week is Sunday, 30th August. The morning is clear, with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 6 mph. Conditions are clean. Swell is 3 ft from the SSW, 15-second period (groundswell). Combined energy hits 389 (moderate). For a beach break, that long period can make it a bit straight, but with this size and clean wind, it’ll be fun and user-friendly. Beginners can handle it.

We then go back to marginal conditions until Friday, 4th September. That Friday morning (4th September) is the best call of the whole 16-day outlook. It’s over a week out, so it’s promising but not locked in. Clear skies, a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE at 6 mph, and clean conditions. Swell is 2 ft from the SSW, with a solid 17-second period. Combined energy is 381 (moderate). That long period at a beach break can be a caveat, but the clean wind and matching swell direction make this your best chance for a glassy, well-shaped wave.

After that, the surf fades fast. The morning of Tuesday, 8th September, has a tiny 1 ft swell with a very long 21-second period; energy is a weak 195. By Wednesday, 9th September, energy jumps to 665 (strong) with a 3 ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is onshore and ugly. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing.

So, it’s a patchy run. Clean sessions are rare and small. But the mornings of the 30th of August and the 4th of September are your best bets. Set the alarm.

Rusty.

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