Laguna Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long hard look at what’s coming our way over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a grim stretch ahead. The whole 16-day window is looking flat and messy for Laguna Beach. There’s not a single standout session on the cards, and the first decent recommendation doesn’t even pop up until Wednesday the 16th, and even that is only marginal at best. We’re looking at a long run of poor surf conditions right through the weekend and into the start of the week. From now until Tuesday the 15th, it’s all poor surf with tiny, weak swells and onshore or cross-shore winds. The water temperature is sitting at 72°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – over 5°F above average, so you’ll feel that difference.

Wednesday 16th September finally shows a tiny glimmer. The morning brings a light cross-onshore breeze with a small 3ft swell from the SSW, period around 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, so there’s some energy behind it, but it’s not enough to get excited about. The combined energy hits 359 (moderate). It’s still described as marginal. The afternoon turns onshore and drops off again. This is really just a case of “maybe a few small ones if you’re desperate.”

Thursday 17th September morning is similarly marginal: 2ft from the SSW, onshore wind, light breeze. Combined energy is 272 (moderate). Still nothing to write home about.

Friday 18th September morning is another marginal call: 2ft from the SW, period 19 seconds, light onshore wind. Energy is 354 (moderate). The afternoon fades into poor conditions.

Saturday 19th September morning: 2ft SW, period 18 seconds, light cross-onshore wind. Energy bumps to 389 (moderate). Still just marginal.

Sunday 20th September morning: 3ft SW, period 18 seconds, light cross-onshore. Energy now 479 (moderate). This is probably the most energy we see in the whole run, but the swell height is tiny and the wind isn’t clean.

From there, it’s more of the same. The second week – from Monday 21st September onwards – sees a slow decline. Swell heights hover around 2ft to 3ft, periods drop from 17 seconds down to 12 seconds by the 27th. Winds stay onshore or cross-onshore. The combined energy drops from the 400s down into the 100s by the end. No standout sessions, no clean windows.

The best of a bad bunch is probably Sunday 20th September morning, where you’ve got the biggest swell (3ft from the SW), longest period (18 seconds), light cross-onshore wind, and the highest combined energy (479). It’s still marginal, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, that’s your best shot. Expect crowds at Laguna Beach, as it’s often busy, and the reef setup might give you a few longer lines from that long-period groundswell. But honestly, for most, it’s not worth the effort.

Keep your expectations low, folks. This is a flat spell. Forecasts can change, but right now it’s looking like a write-off.

Rusty.

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