Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for Long Beach. It’s a bit of a slow start, but once it gets going, there’s some serious grunt on the way.

The first couple of days are a write-off, to be honest. We’ve got a pulse of energy arriving on Wednesday the 15th, but with a howling 12 mph wind from the NNW, it’s just messy. By Wednesday afternoon, the wind swings around to a light offshore from the S, and things get interesting. The swell jumps to 10 ft from the SW, with a very long period of 16 seconds. The combined energy is massive at 4278, but this is big, powerful groundswell. At that size, and with a period that long, it’s going to be pitching hard and fast. This is strictly for the experienced crew. The water temp is sitting at 59°, which is about normal for the time of year.

Thursday the 16th is the real standout. Morning starts with some clouds, but the wind is glassy from the SW, and the swell is a solid 8 ft from the SW, period 13 seconds. The energy is pumping at 2494. This is a proper window of clean, powerful surf. The crowd factor is "often", so expect some company. The afternoon stays clean with a light cross-offshore breeze, still holding 8 ft. This is the best on offer in the first week.

Friday the 17th is a step down in size but still fun with clean cross-offshore winds, and the swell hangs around 7 ft to 6 ft. By Saturday the 18th, the morning goes glassy again but the swell drops right off to 3 ft, so it’s a small waves session. The afternoon sees a bigger 7 ft pulse come in, but with a cross-onshore wind, it gets a bit lumpy.

Sunday the 19th is another good call. Morning has a light cross-offshore breeze and a clean 6 ft swell from the SW. The afternoon turns into a proper offshore breeze from the S at 12 mph, with a 5 ft SSW swell. The combined energy is 1032, and it’s clean. This is a solid session.

There’s a decent gap of poor conditions from Monday the 21st through Wednesday the 22nd. We see a massive 18 ft swell hit on the Tuesday morning, but it’s pinned by a 12 mph cross-onshore wind, making it a total mess. That’s kite-surfing territory, not paddle surfing. The energy on that is 12412, which is insane, but completely blown out.

Now, the second week brings the real fire. Thursday the 23rd is a monster. The swell is 18 ft from the SW, period 15 seconds, and the combined energy is a staggering 14513. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the SE. This is enormous, powerful, and very long period. It’s a big-water, expert-only affair. The break is a sandbar, so with a period that long, it might be a bit straight and fast. But if you’ve got the chops, it’s on.

Friday the 24th still has a solid 10 ft from the WSW with clean cross-offshore winds. The pattern continues into the weekend. Saturday the 25th is another standout: morning has a gentle offshore wind from the S, with a 8 ft SW swell, and the afternoon kicks up to 10 ft from the WSW, period 15 seconds, with a moderate offshore breeze. The energy is 4860. This is clean, powerful, and for the experienced surfer.

The last few days of the window, from the 26th to the 29th, see big, clean swells, but the wind gets stronger, turning into a fresh to strong breeze. The energy stays high, but the conditions get more challenging. The final day, the 30th, is small and blown out.

So, to sum it up: the best swells are on the 16th for a cleaner, more manageable size, and the 25th for a punchy, consistent, offshore session. The 23rd is the biggest, but it’s for the brave.

Rusty

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