La Jolla Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks. Gotta be straight with ya – it’s a lean stretch. We’ve got a big ol’ gap of nothing special to kick things off. The first real chance at anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until Monday, August 24th, and even then it’s a marginal call. So expect a solid week of small, junky conditions before we see any pulse of life.

Alright, let’s start with the only break we’re looking at: La Jolla Cove. It’s a reef and point setup, beginner-friendly, and pretty consistent, which is a small mercy. The water is sitting at a warm 71°F – a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s a nice bonus.

The first few days, from Tuesday the 18th right through to Sunday the 23rd, are a write-off. We’re talking tiny swell, mostly around 1ft to 3ft, with short, weak periods. The wind is a mess – cross-onshore or cross-shore most of the time, keeping things choppy or rippled. Combined wave energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (86 to 99). It’s a hard pass for any kind of paddle surfing. Honestly, with those conditions, if you’ve got a kite, the setup might be more interesting for that than a surfboard.

Now, the first glimmer of hope arrives on Monday, August 24th. The morning sees a long-period groundswell starting to fill in from the southwest at 2ft with a 18-second period. That’s a serious period – very long period. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 272. The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’ll be a little bumpy, but the potential for a clean, lined-up wave is there. This is the standout of the whole period. The southwest direction is right in the pocket for this spot’s optimum. But remember, a swell this long can sometimes run a bit straight on the beach breaks; at a point-and-reef like La Jolla Cove, it should actually shine. Crowds are possible here, especially when it’s the only show in town.

Tuesday, August 25th morning keeps that window open – similar 2ft SW swell with 16-second period and light winds. The energy is still solid at 330. Still the best option of the run. It’s still a marginal surf forecast, but this is the one to watch.

After that, the quality drops back down. The rest of that week and into the first few days of September sees the swell sticking around at similar heights (2ft to 3ft) but the period drops, and the wind turns more onshore or cross-onshore again, making things sloppy. The energy fades back to the 100-200 range. Not great.

The very last day in the window, Wednesday, September 2nd, offers a bit of a surprise. The morning shows a 5ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds, and clean, cross-offshore winds from the SSW. That’s the biggest swell of the whole outlook, and clean winds. It’s surfable, but it’s ordinary conditions according to the numbers – don’t expect perfection. Still, for this stretch, it’s a highlight. That size is getting a bit much for beginners.

So, to wrap it up: don’t hold your breath for the first week. The best bet for a proper session is that long-period groundswell on Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th. The final day on September 2nd is worth a look for the size and clean winds, but it’s a long way off, so treat that as a promising maybe. The water will stay warm, and while it’s not gonna be firing, there are a couple of windows to get wet.

Stay patient, and keep your eyes on that forecast.

Rusty.

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