Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let's call it like it is. The surf for the next couple of weeks is pretty much a write-off. We're looking at a whole lot of small, weak swell and winds that are just blowing the wrong way, leaving us with nothing but chop and closeouts.

Starting Wednesday the 9th, it's knee-high slop with a cross-onshore breeze. The swell is out of the southwest, but it's weak, with a combined energy around 278. It's just not happening. This continues through the weekend, with a bit more size on Thursday the 10th, but it's still a mess and the onshore wind keeps it bumpy. The swell period is long, around 16-17 seconds, so there's some groundswell energy in the water, but the direction and the wind are just killing it.

Water temp is just about normal for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

The first real hint of hope comes on Wednesday the 16th. The swell is still small, maybe waist-high at best, but the wind turns offshore and it glasses off. It's still considered marginal, but a clean surface is a huge change from the chop we've been dealing with. The energy is up to a moderate 412, coming from the southwest with an 18-second period. It's not big, but it'll be clean and you might find a few fun ones in the morning.

That offshore wind sticks around for Thursday the 17th, but then Friday the 18th brings back the onshore breeze and we're back to square one. But then, Monday the 21st is looking like the best day of the whole stretch. The swell is still small, around 0.9m, but it's from the southwest with a solid 17-second period, and the wind is light and offshore. The energy is up to 480, the most we'll see in this whole run. It's a long-period groundswell, which at Huntington Cliffs can make it a bit straight, but with that light offshore wind, it might actually have some shape to it. It won't be big, but it could be the cleanest and most consistent day we get. The 24th keeps a similar small, clean southwest swell going, so if you missed your window, you could give it a go then.

The real standout here is Monday, September 21st. If you can get out in the morning, that's the day to do it. It's small enough for beginners, clean, and there should be a steady stream of waves. The rest of the time, it's either too small, too messy, or both.

If you've got a kite, the days with stronger cross-shore winds might offer more fun than trying to surf the chop.

Otherwise, it's a good time for a board swap or a long nap. It's not gonna get good for a while.

Rusty

Read more