La Jolla Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s coming up for our local stretch.

Honestly, for the next week and a half, it’s a bit of a flat spell. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, weak swell and a lot of cross-onshore wind. The first solid recommendation doesn’t pop up until Wednesday, August 12th, and even then, it’s only a marginal call. Before that, from Wednesday, August 5th, right through to Tuesday, August 11th, the surf is pretty much a bust. You’re looking at persistent “poor surf conditions” with swell barely cracking 2 ft and combined wave energy mostly in the low hundreds, often under 150 (moderate energy). The wind is a constant cross or cross-onshore, leaving the ocean choppy or with wind ripples. It’s a tough stretch to get excited about.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Wednesday, August 12th. The morning session at La Jolla Cove (California) shows a bit of life. The swell bumps up to 2 ft from the SW, with a period of 17 seconds. That’s a long period groundswell, which means more energy and shape, but it can make beach breaks a bit tricky. For a reef and point like this, that’s a good thing. The combined energy hits 285 (moderate), and the wind is light and cross-shore. It’s only a 1 out of 10, but it’s the first thing on the board that isn’t total junk. The water temp is a very unusual 75°F, which is a whopping 8°F warmer than normal for this time of year.

Thursday, August 13th, the afternoon actually gets a bit more interesting. We see a pulse of 3 ft swell from the SW, with a 16-second period. The combined energy jumps to 375 (moderate), which is the best we’ll see for a while. The wind is a cross-on, so it won’t be glassy, but that’s a bit more size and power. Still, we’re in “poor surf conditions” territory.

From Friday, August 14th, it all drops off again. The swell fades and the period crashes into the 5 to 6-second range (short period, windswell) with combined energy under 100 (weak). The wind stays cross or cross-on, and the wave heights barely register. This low energy pattern drags on right through the end of the 16-day window.

The only other time we see a clean wind is on the mornings of Tuesday, August 18th, and Wednesday, August 19th, with a light cross-offshore breeze, but the swell is mostly 2 ft from the WNW with a short period of 6 seconds and combined energy under 100 (weak). It’s clean, but barely any punch.

If you’re desperate, Wednesday, August 12th, is the pick of the litter, but it’s more of a “maybe get the log out” kind of day than a standout. The rest of the window is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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