La Jolla Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’ll be honest with you – it’s a rough stretch ahead for La Jolla Cove. The water is sitting at 75° right now, which is a solid 7° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, like swimming in a bathtub, but don’t get too excited because the surf just isn’t there.

We’re looking at a long, flat gap starting now. The first couple of days, from Sunday the 2nd into Monday the 3rd, have tiny swell – barely 1 ft to 3 ft from the SW or WNW, with periods all over the place. The combined energy is weak, mostly in the 130–162 range, and the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s choppy and messy. Not worth paddling out for.

This flat spell drags on through the whole first week. Tuesday the 4th through to Saturday the 8th, we’re stuck with the same story: small 2 ft to 2 ft SW swell, weak energy (mostly 69–175), and light cross or cross-onshore breezes. It’s all poor surf conditions. Sunday the 9th is even worse – the swell just about disappears, with energy dropping to 0–11.

There’s a little flicker of hope around Monday the 10th. The morning shows a clean, cross-offshore wind from the SSW at 9 mph, with 1 ft from the W, but the period is short at 8 seconds. The energy is still weak at 20, so it’s not really surfable. By the afternoon, the swell picks up a touch – 2 ft from the SW with a long 20-second period, and energy jumps to 199. That’s a long-period groundswell, which can be tricky for beach breaks but can work well at a reef and point setup like La Jolla Cove. Still, the wind is cross-shore, so it’s not clean.

Tuesday the 11th brings similar conditions: 2 ft to 2 ft SW swell with 18-second periods, energy in the 186–274 range. Light cross to cross-onshore wind. It’s still not great, but the longer period gives it a bit more shape and power. The best of a pretty average bunch would be the Tuesday afternoon, with the highest energy (274) and light wind.

Wednesday the 12th drops right back down – 1 ft from the WNW with 8-second period, energy just 21–22. Thursday the 13th shows a slight bump, with 2 ft to 3 ft SW swell, 16-second period, and energy up to 287. But again, the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. The period is good, but the conditions are a letdown.

From Friday the 14th through to Monday the 17th, it’s back to tiny surf – 1.0 ft to 1 ft from the WNW, periods mostly 15–17 seconds, but energy stays low (47–136). The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s bumpy and messy.

If I had to pick a standout – and I’m stretching here – it’d be Tuesday the 11th afternoon. That 2 ft SW swell with a long 18-second period and light cross-onshore wind has the most energy (274) of the whole run. For a reef and point like La Jolla Cove, that long period could wrap in and give a few fun, clean lines if you’re patient. But honestly, don’t expect much. This is a flat spell, and it’s gonna last.

Rusty.

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