La Jolla Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I’ve got the goods on what’s coming up for our local stretch. Truth be told, the next week and a half is a bit of a struggle, but there’s a little window of hope for the patient ones.

Right now, the surf is pretty flat and messy. Thursday afternoon (2nd July) has a tiny 2ft swell rolling in from the SW, but it’s long-period (15 seconds) which would normally be good news at a reef and point like La Jolla Cove. Unfortunately, we’ve got a moderate WNW breeze blowing straight onshore, so it’s choppy and blown out. The water is sitting at a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, coming in at 68°F with a 3°F positive anomaly. The combined energy is only moderate at 203, but the conditions just aren't cooperating.

That poor outlook carries on through the end of this week and into the next. Friday (3rd) and Saturday (4th) are tiny, with swell dropping to 2ft and a short, weak 5-second period. Winds stay cross-onshore from the WNW, keeping that surface bumpy. The energy is weak, ranging from 12 to 16. Things don't look any better for Sunday (5th) or Monday (6th), with the swell struggling to hit 2ft to 2ft and all those cross-onshore breezes. We’re looking at a solid 8-9 day stretch here where it’s just not worth paddling out unless you want to bob around on a log with zero push.

We finally see a flicker of life on Thursday morning, 9th July. The swell bumps up to a clean 4ft from the WNW with a much healthier 9-second period. The wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the SSW, which should keep the surface glassy. The combined energy kicks up to a solid 258. This is the first moment where it’s surfable, but it’s still pretty ordinary. This small window of cleaner conditions stretches into Friday 10th July, with similar 4ft swell and cross-offshore winds. It’s still not firing on all cylinders, but if you’re desperate for a paddle and some lined-up reef waves at La Jolla Cove, that’s your best bet in the whole outlook. Be aware that crowds are possible here, especially when it cleans up, so you might have some company.

After that brief tease, wave heights drop back down through the weekend and into the next week. The combined energy falls off a cliff, dipping into weak numbers (39-45) from the 13th to the 14th. By the 15th, we see a little blip of moderate energy (195) but with rain showers and a straight onshore wind from the NW, it’s a complete write-off. The period stretches all the way out to 18-19 seconds in the second week, which means those long-period groundswells will be tricky on this setup, likely breaking too straight for any real shape. Combined energy jumps around from 154 to a strong 359, but with onshore or cross-onshore winds and only 1ft to 2ft of height, it’s a classic case of "looks better on paper than in the water." For this area, a long flat spell like this is just how it goes sometimes, but forecasts can always change, so don't lose all hope.

The standout for this region is that narrow window on Thursday 9th July and Friday 10th July at La Jolla Cove. That’s where you want to be for the cleanest conditions and the most rideable 4ft WNW swell. It won’t be epic, but it’s the best of a tough lot.

Stay patient, keep the board waxed, and check back in.

Rusty.

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