Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you – the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag for Long Beach. We’ve got some proper swell early on but the wind is going to make life tricky, so we’re looking for those windows of clean conditions.

The first real surfable day kicks off on Tuesday, the 4th of August. It’s a small start, with a clean 5ft SW swell rolling in (moderate wave energy of 472). The morning is glassy with a slight air from the SE, so it’ll be smooth. The water is sitting at 59°, which is about normal for this time of year. It’s a decent little session for an intermediate, but it’s not the standout of the forecast.

Things get a bit wild from Wednesday the 5th. A big 8ft SW groundswell with a 16-second period (very long period) hits, but it’s absolutely mangled by a 19 mph northerly onshore wind. That’s messy, lumpy, and poor. By Thursday the 6th, the swell is even bigger at 12ft (strong energy of 3611), but the wind is only a slight improvement. The size is already in expert territory, and the wind is cross-offshore, so it’s going to be a clean but very challenging wall of water. This is not for the faint-hearted.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Saturday morning, the 8th of August, is your best bet for a proper session. The swell drops to 8ft from the SW (moderate-strong energy of 2376), and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the WSW. It’s clean, it’s got some power, and it’s perfect for experienced surfers. This is the standout. Get on it.

The rest of the first week gets blown out again. Sunday the 9th sees a massive 13ft SW swell (very strong energy of 4437) but with screaming 28 mph winds. That’s a kite-surfing show, not a paddle session. Monday the 10th is similar, with strong winds making it ugly.

We get a brief, unexpected reprieve on Tuesday the 11th of August. The morning is a naughty 6ft from the SE, but the real magic is Tuesday afternoon. The swell drops to a tiny 2ft, but it’s a 24-second SW groundswell (1580 energy) with a gentle offshore from the S. That’s a classic, clean, long-period groomer. It’s small, but if you’ve got a log, you’ll be smiling.

The following week is a tale of two halves. Wednesday the 12th has a solid 6ft to 7ft SW groundswell with clean conditions in the afternoon (light breeze, cross-offshore). That’s another good window for the experienced crew. But from Thursday the 13th through to the end of the period, the wind turns onshore or cross-onshore regularly, and the swell sticks around the 5ft to 8ft range. The energy is moderate, but it’s mostly choppy and poor. The only little glimmer is Saturday the 15th morning, with a 5ft WSW swell and clean conditions, but it’s nothing to write home about.

So, to sum it up: Saturday the 8th of August is your big winner. Tuesday the 11th afternoon is a sneaky small-wave treat. Everything else is a gamble with the wind. Stay patient, and don’t be afraid to sit out the big, windy days.

Rusty.

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