Laguna Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s going on in the water.

Looking at the full 16-day run, the honest truth is it’s a quiet stretch. There are no standout days where everything lines up. We’ve got a long gap of poor conditions straight out of the gate, and even when things nudge up into the marginal category, it’s not enough to get really excited about. The combined swell energy stays mostly in the moderate range (values between 160 and 442), but the wind and surf quality just aren’t cooperating.

Overall Pattern

The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until Tuesday the 18th of August, and even then it’s only a marginal call. Before that, from Sunday the 16th through Monday the 17th, the surf is flat and messy – a poor start with nothing to offer. From the 18th, things get a little better, but we’re still talking about small, inconsistent waves.

Tuesday 18th August – Thursday 20th August

On Tuesday morning, we see a slight uptick. The swell is small at 2ft from the SSW, with a long period of 16 seconds. This is proper groundswell energy (combined energy of 331). The wind is a light cross-onshore, which isn’t ideal but keeps it from being blown out. The surf is marginal, so it’s more of a “maybe” session than a “must-go”.

Wednesday the 19th holds similar potential. The swell is a touch bigger at 3ft from the SSW, with a 15-second period (combined energy of 317). The wind is onshore but light. Again, it’s marginal, so keep expectations low.

Thursday the 20th sees the swell drop back to 2ft, with a shorter period of 14 seconds (combined energy of 259). The wind is cross-onshore and light. It’s poor surf – not worth the drive.

Friday 21st August – Sunday 31st August

From Friday the 21st onward, it’s a slow decline. The swell stays small, usually between 1ft and 2ft, with periods varying from 13 to 19 seconds. The wind remains mostly cross-onshore or onshore. The combined energy drops significantly, often below 200. It’s a long stretch of poor, unsurfable conditions. There are a few marginal windows on Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th, with the swell picking up to 3ft-3ft from the SSW, but the wind is still cross-onshore, and the overall call is marginal at best. For Laguna Beach, it’s not happening.

The Only Potential Highlight

Honestly, the only time you might want to paddle out is on Wednesday the 26th of August in the afternoon. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the SE, which cleans things up nicely. The swell is only 2ft from the SW with a 16-second period, so it’s not going to be big, but the conditions will be clean. It’s a small, glassy session for the diehards.

Water Temperature

For Laguna Beach, the water temperature is around average for this time of year. Nothing unusual to report there.

Bottom Line

Don’t expect any pumping surf in the next 16 days. The best you can hope for is a small, clean window on the 26th, but don’t plan your week around it. It’s a quiet period for the reef. The forecast could change, but as it stands, keep your board in the car and your expectations low.

Rusty.

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