Huntington Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into it for the local stretch.

To be honest, the outlook over the next couple of weeks is pretty flat and frustrating. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak, and choppy conditions that just aren’t worth paddling out for. The first real glimmer of something rideable doesn’t show up until the back half of the period, so you might as well wax your board now and wait.

For the next week or so, from Thursday the 20th of August right through to the start of September, it’s a grim picture. Swell heights are mostly hanging around that tiny 1ft to 2ft mark, coming in from the SSW and SW. The energy is poor, with combined swell energy values scraping around the low to mid 100s and 200s – that’s weak sauce. The wind is a constant problem too, mostly a cross-onshore breeze that’s messing up any chance of a clean face. Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st are total write-offs with poor surf and light cross-onshore ripples. It’s basically a lake out there. Even the mornings with light or onshore winds can’t save the tiny, weak waves. This blank run stretches on for days.

There is a slight uptick in swell around Sunday the 30th of August, with the height pushing to about 3ft and the energy jumping up around the 500 mark, but that cross-onshore wind is still there, keeping it choppy and unappealing. The period is around 15 seconds on that day, which is a nice long groundswell, but with the wind against it and the break being a beach break, it’s just not going to line up well.

Now, if you can hold out, there is one standout that finally shows its face. On Friday the 4th of September, the surfing gods might smile on us. The forecast shows the wind going glassy. That’s the word we want to hear. We’re looking at a light, clean 2ft swell from the SSW with a solid 16-second period, and the combined energy hits a decent 372 (moderate wave energy). The wind is a light 3 mph from the SSW... glassy. This is the only time in the whole forecast where the conditions finally come together for a clean surf. The swell direction from the SSW is a good angle for Huntington Pier, and that glassy wind will make for some silky smooth lines. Don't expect monsters, but for clean, fun waves on a long-period groundswell, this is the one to circle on your calendar. Just be aware, it is an exposed spot that handles the SSW nicely, but that long period may make it a bit straight at times, though being a pier, it should offer a decent bank.

Besides that one morning, it’s a long wait. Saturday the 5th quickly reverts to form with cross-onshore wind and poor conditions.

So, in short: don’t bother this week. The only real player is the glassy Friday morning on the 4th of September. Mark it down, keep your fingers crossed, and I’ll see you in the water then.

Rusty.

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