Huntington Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about the next few weeks at Huntington Pier.

First off, we’ve got a bit of a wait on our hands. The next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and honestly, the first several days are a struggle. It’s not looking good right now, but there’s a glimmer of hope if you’re patient.

The earliest we see any potential is on Monday afternoon, August 31st. The swell is coming from the south at 3 ft, but it’s blown out by a 12 mph onshore wind. The water is a crazy 76°, which is far warmer than normal for this time of year, but the surf is just poor. The combined energy of all swells is weak (387). Not worth paddling out.

Things stay pretty grim through the first week of September. We’re looking at a lot of mornings with small, marginal surf and questionable tides. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the combined swell energy stays low, bouncing between 200 and 300. There’s a brief pulse of energy on Thursday afternoon, September 3rd, with a 3 ft SSW swell and a 18-second period, but it’s still onshore and the conditions are poor. The combined energy climbs to moderate (544), but it’s not clean.

The next few days, September 4th and 5th, are frustrating. The swell builds a bit, with chest-high 3 ft to 4 ft SSW swell showing up, but the wind is cross-onshore or onshore, messing up the surface. The combined energy gets into the strong range (685 to 878), but the surf is still marginal because of the wind.

Now, here’s the one true standout in this whole damn forecast. Sunday morning, September 6th. This is the window. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the south with a 13-second period, and the wind is glassy – completely off. Three mph from the west. The combined energy is strong (893) and the report says "expect very good surf conditions." This will be your best chance for clean, fun waves at Huntington Pier. The swell is big enough for a good time, but still manageable for most. Expect the crowds, because this spot is very consistent and gets busy.

That Sunday afternoon, the swell bumps up to 5 ft, but the wind turns onshore, so it’s not as good. Monday morning, September 7th, is also a decent option, with a 6 ft S swell and a 13-second period, and a clean cross-offshore wind from the NNW. The combined energy is very strong (1029), but at 6 ft, it’s starting to get a bit sizeable for beginners. The waves will have good energy, but the long period means it might be a bit crumbly on a beach break like this.

After that, it’s a slow fade. The rest of the second week and into the middle of September is a total washout. The swell drops back to knee-high, the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the combined energy is weak again. From September 8th all the way through September 15th, it’s just poor surf conditions day after day, with a lot of onshore wind and choppy water. The swell is tiny, around 1 ft to 2 ft.

So, the bottom line: if you want to surf, your only real shot is Sunday, September 6th. That glassy morning is the highlight. The rest of the 16 days is a long, flat spell with a few marginal moments that are not worth the paddle. Keep your eye on the forecasts, but for now, that’s the reality.

Rusty.

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