Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu over the next couple of weeks. We’ve got some serious action coming, but you’ve got to be patient and pick your moments.

The first real chance isn’t until this Friday afternoon, the 7th of August, at Long Beach (sandbar). We’re starting off with a bang, believe it or not. That first session has a solid 12 ft south-west swell pulsing in with a very long period of 15 seconds, which is proper groundswell. The combined energy is massive at 5438 (very strong), and this isn’t for the faint of heart. The water is sitting at 57°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so a good wetsuit is non-negotiable. The wind is a light south-westerly, so cross-offshore, which should keep things reasonably clean. But at this size, with that period, it’s going to be powerful and demanding – strictly for the experienced crew out there.

Saturday the 8th gets a bit wild. The morning is a write-off with northerly onshores, but Saturday afternoon looks like the real standout for the first week. The wind swings southerly offshore, and we get a 13 ft south-west swell (combined energy of 6120). That’s raw power, excellent conditions, but again, for experts only. The wind will groom it, but don’t expect an easy paddle.

Sunday the 9th is a washout for quality. The swell is still chunky at 10 ft to 12 ft, but we’re looking at strong offshore winds of 25 mph. That can make it nearly impossible to get into the waves. Leave the board on the car.

From Monday the 10th through to Thursday the 13th, things drop off in size but turn inconsistent and messy. There are some cleaner windows, especially Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon with a 7 ft to 7 ft south-west swell and very long periods of 17-18 seconds. The wind is light and cross-off. That’s a good setup for the sandbar, giving you proper lines, but the wave energy is moderate and it’s not the top of the heap. It’s surfable for intermediates if you pick your tides.

Then Friday afternoon, the 14th of August is a little gem. The swell drops to 6 ft from the west-south-west, but the wind goes glassy. That’s a rare treat. Combined energy is 1379 (moderate), so it’s manageable, and the conditions will be silky smooth. That’s your best window for the intermediate surfer.

We hit a bit of a flat spot from the 15th through the 18th. Fairly inconsistent, a lot of onshore and cross-shore wind, and a lot of “poor” or “marginal” calls. Nothing to get excited about.

Now, hold on to your boardshorts, because the real standout is the following week. This is a long-range call, so it’s promising but less certain.

Friday the 21st of August: We get a beast of a swell. Morning has 16 ft from the west with a period of 11 seconds, climbing to 18 ft from the west-south-west in the afternoon. The combined energy is off the charts – 6542 and 8603. The wind is light to moderate offshore. This is a very big, powerful swell, again for experts only.

Saturday the 22nd of August tops it. 20 ft in the morning and 18 ft in the afternoon from the west-south-west. Combined energy hits 12632 and 13746. That’s an enormous amount of water moving. The wind is cross-offshore, but at this size, that’s not a huge comfort. This is the big one – the biggest waves of the entire outlook. If you have the experience and the right equipment, this weekend is the target.

After Saturday the 22nd, the forecast runs out. There’s a long quiet spell through the middle of the period, but when it comes back, it comes back with a vengeance.

Overall, you’ve got two solid options: the cleaner, smaller windows around Friday the 14th for a relaxed session, or the absolute bomb swell of the 21st and 22nd for the big-wave chargers. Choose wisely.

Rusty.

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