Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, here we go. The first thing you need to know is that the early part of this forecast is a salvage job. I know you all want to hear about waves, but for the next several days, it’s going to be ugly. The wind is just relentless from the southeast, absolutely howling cross-off and keeping everything sectiony and lumpy. There is decent swell showing in the water, but don’t let that fool you; it’s going to be a messy, blown-out mess. You’d be battling bumps all day. The forecast is just plain poor, a whole lot of "poor surf conditions" and scores of zero. I’d sit this one out unless you like getting your head snapped off. The water is 14°, a bit colder than normal which adds a real bite to the wind, too.

We finally get a bit of a break by the 22rd. It’s not going to be big, but that morning looks glassy with light winds coming off the land. We might get a few clean little lines pushing into Long Beach sandbar. It’s not a day for heroes, but if you just need to get wet and turn some foam, this could be your window. The swell is small and weak, but it’s clean and that's all that matters sometimes.

But hold on to your hats, because the 26th and 27th are the days I’m watching closest. The swell stays solid, but more importantly, the wind finally drops out and turns offshore. I’m seeing a real window of "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers" on the 26th. This is where Long Beach (Long-Beach_2) will turn on. It’s a sandbar break, so it doesn’t always love a long-period swell, but with these SW/WSW swells in the 2-2.5m range and the clean offshore conditions, the sets should be holding their shape. The energy is strong – we're seeing combined energies of 2600, which is proper when you factor in the conditions. The crowd factor is a possibility, as it always is on a good day, so be prepared to fight for a few waves. This is the pick of the entire forecast, and it’s a week away. Mark it in your calendar.

The following day, the 27th, has more of the same in the morning and it looks great. The afternoon is a little more questionable with the tide, but the morning session is your window.

After that, the wind looks like it might go a little wonky, and the long-range stuff on the 30th and into October is all over the shop. That’s the point where I start to trust the near-term forecasts and not think about it too much. Just keep the 26th in mind. It’s got “class” written all over it. I'll see you out there, and if you can't get out, keep an eye on the cams.

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