L Jetty Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me level with ya. Straight up: the next couple weeks at L Jetty are looking pretty grim for a proper surf. We’ve got a long stretch of mostly small, weak, and onshore junk to wade through. But hold on, there *are* a couple of windows where it might just be worth paddling out if you're desperate.

Right now, through the start of September, we’re in a flat spell. Tiny 1 ft to 1 ft swell, short period around 7-8 seconds, and mostly onshore wind. The water’s sitting at 74°, which feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight. Nothing doing.

We finally see a bump of energy arrive on Wednesday the 2nd – 4 ft to 4 ft from the east, but the period is a short, weak 6 seconds and the wind is howling onshore at 12 to 16 mph. Choppy, messy, just ugly. The combined energy kicks up to 157, but it’s terrible conditions.

Now, Thursday the 3rd is your first real chance. Morning brings a light offshore from the WNW at 9 mph, and the swell is 3 ft from the ESE, period 7 seconds. Combined energy is only 102. It’s not pumping, but with that offshore breeze the surface will be clean. The afternoon cleans up even more with lighter wind. This is *surfable* but nothing to write home about. If you’ve got a log, this might be your best window in the first week.

After that, we slide back into tiny, weak, and mostly onshore slop for days. Friday the 4th through to the end of the first week is all below 2 ft with poor wind. Not worth your time.

Sunday the 6th sees a jump in swell height to 5 ft from the ENE, period 7 seconds, and combined energy hits 166 – but the wind is a nasty cross-onshore at 16 mph. Choppy and ugly. Only for the keenest.

We then hit another long gap of poor conditions until Tuesday the 15th. That morning looks promising: 5 ft swell from the ENE, period 7 seconds, combined energy 179, and a light cross-offshore wind from the south at 6 mph. The surface should be clean. The afternoon holds similar energy at 190 with a light cross-off. This is the best looking setup in the whole 16-day outlook, but it’s still only ordinary surf quality at best. The swell direction isn’t quite perfect for the break.

Given the long stretches of nothing, and that the only decent windows are at best average, there’s just no standout session here. Crowds can be an issue at L Jetty when it’s even half decent, so if you do go out on the 3rd or the 15th, expect company.

Stay patient. It’ll turn.

Rusty

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