Huntington Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s happening at Huntington Beach.

Look, I’m gonna level with you – the next couple of weeks are a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a long run of poor surf conditions with barely a window that’s worth paddling out for. The water is sitting at 73°F right now, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels more like a late summer holdover than early autumn.

For the first week, from Tuesday the 8th right through to Friday the 19th of September, it’s basically a write-off. The swell is small – mostly around 1ft to 3ft – coming from the SSW or SW, with period mostly between 10 and 19 seconds. Even when the period looks decent, the wind is cross-shore or cross-onshore, and the wave comment from the forecast keeps calling it “poor surf conditions.” The combined swell energy sits between 174 and 501 – that’s moderate energy at best, but the quality just isn’t there. On a few mornings, like Saturday the 20th and Monday the 22nd, we get a “marginal” tag, but the swell is still only 3ft to 3ft with onshore wind. It’s a tease.

Honestly, the only real bright spot in the whole 16-day window is looking at Saturday the 21st of September. That Monday morning shows a hint of clean-up with WSW wind at just 3 mph – almost glassy – and a 3ft SW swell. Combined energy is 412, so some push there, but the wave comment still says “marginal.” It’s not a classic, but if you’re desperate, that’s your chance. Huntington Beach can handle a little SW groundswell, but with a 17-second period it might wrap a bit straight unless you’re on the right sandbar. Crowds are often an issue here, and with only a small, marginal wave, it’ll feel like a zoo.

If you’re a beginner, the swell stays under 5ft the whole forecast, so size isn’t the problem – it’s the chop and the lack of any proper clean face. For experts, there’s almost nothing to get excited about. If the wind stays mostly cross-onshore and the surf is this weak, honestly, a lot of these days look more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

Hang tight. It’s a flat spell, but forecasts can change. Keep an eye on that window around Monday the 23rd – Tuesday the 24th, but don’t hold your breath.

Rusty.

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