La Jolla Cove Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, hard look at what’s ahead for La Jolla Cove. The water temp is running much warmer than normal for July, sitting at 72°, so if you’re heading out, a spring suit or maybe just a top is all you need.

Right now, we are starting with a frustratingly quiet stretch. Honestly, the first week and a half is a write-off for any decent waves. Wednesday the 15th kicks off with tiny 2ft swell from the SW at a super long 17 seconds, but there’s a light cross-onshore breeze messing it up and the energy reading is low at 161. The whole day is just poor surf conditions. Thursday the 16th picks up a little with knee-high 3ft WNW swell and clean winds, but it’s still considered a marginal forecast. This pattern of tiny, weak swell and iffy conditions just hangs around day after day. Saturday the 18th morning shows a glimmer with 3ft SW swell and a strong combined energy for this size—up at 392—and clean offshore winds, but it's still only called "good" not "great" and the swell remains small. That feeling of hope fades fast as Sunday and Monday drop right back into the gutter with tiny waves and cross-onshore breezes.

Standout Action: The real story here is in the second week. You’ve gotta be patient.

Mark your calendar for Monday the 27th of July. That morning is the standout of the whole 16-day run. We’re looking at 4ft of clean, long-period SW groundswell with a 18-second period, generating some serious energy (934). The wind is offshore (cross-off) from the SSW at 9 mph, so the surface will be clean as a whistle. This is expert friendly and possibly too big for beginners, but for everyone else, this is the dawn patrol session to chase.

Tuesday the 28th of July is nearly a mirror image and almost as good. Morning sees the same 4ft SW groundswell, 17-second period, and again the energy is huge (880) with clean, cross-off winds. The quality holds through Tuesday afternoon as well, so you have a solid 12-hour window of really good waves.

Before that, the week leading up is mostly just dribbly leftovers. Friday the 24th has 2ft SW swell at a wild 24-second period, but the energy is all over the place and the winds are onshore, so it really doesn’t fire.

So here’s the bottom line: a massive gap of up to 12 days of mostly “poor surf” conditions before that solid morning of proper groundswell on the 27th. It’s a desert then a sudden oasis. Keep your eyes on that forecast, because once that big SW energy arrives, La Jolla Cove could be firing for the crew who paddle out early on Monday and Tuesday.

Stay patient, get out there on the 27th, and let’s hope it holds together.

Rusty.

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