Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, let’s have a good look at what’s on the cards for our little stretch of sand. It’s been a bit of a slow start, but there’s some real sparkle waiting for us if we’re patient.

The first few days are a write-off, I’m sorry to say. We’re looking at a bit of a gap until Sunday the 23rd before anything worthwhile shows up. Friday afternoon the 21st and Saturday the 22nd are just one big “don’t bother” – poor surf, messy winds, and the swell’s all over the shop. Trust me, it’s not worth wetting a wetsuit.

But then, Sunday the 23rd rolls in and it’s a beautiful change of pace. Long Beach is the spot to be. Come Sunday morning, we’ve got a clean 7ft swell from the WSW, with a period of 13 seconds (that’s got some proper groundswell energy behind it), and a light cross-offshore breeze from the SSE making the surface buttery. The combined energy is sitting at 1824, so there’s a solid, moderate power in the water. The water’s a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 58°, so you’ll want a decent suit. Sunday afternoon only gets better – the wind goes fully offshore from the south, still gentle, and the swell holds at 8ft from the WSW with a 12-second period. It’s a standout day, no doubt.

Monday morning the 24th is still clean with 6ft from the WSW, but the wind gets a bit stiff and the quality drops – it’s only marginal. The marine layer seems to be holding off, and the following days look mixed. Tuesday the 25th has a building swell, up to 8ft from the SW with a 14-second period and a big energy reading of 2436, but the wind is a fresh cross-off from the SE, steering it toward a more powerful, expert-only zone. By Wednesday the 26th, we get a bit of a weird one – a 8ft swell from the SE but with a short 8-second period, so it’s all muscle and no shape. Still, the morning and afternoon both have clean conditions and a moderate breeze, so it’s rideable for the keen.

Now, here’s the real gem for the patient surfer. Friday the 28th is looking like a treat. The swell drops a touch to 4-5ft from the WSW, but the period is a dreamy 14 seconds, and the wind is barely a whisper from the SE and ESE. Clean lines, glassy conditions, and solid energy in the 1299-1333 range. That’s a session for the log or the step-up, and crowds are always possible at Long Beach, so get in early.

The second week gets a bit wild. Saturday the 29th is a write-off – strong winds, and by the afternoon we’ve got an 12ft swell from the west with a short 9-second period and a huge energy reading of 2500, but it’s blowing hard and looking messy. That’s more kite-surf territory than paddle-surf, honestly. Sunday the 30th though, hold on to your board. The morning brings an 12ft swell from the WSW, 12-second period, and a gorgeous offshore wind from the south. The energy is a whopping 4430. That’s big, powerful, and clean – but this is for experienced surfers only. It’s a standout session for the crew who can handle it. The afternoon’s still good but a bit more mellow.

The rest of the window in early September is a bit of a mixed bag. Monday the 1st of September has a clean afternoon with 7ft from the SW and a 13-second period, with a light offshore breeze, but the week following gets lumpy and windy again. Wednesday the 3rd and Thursday the 4th have some glimmers, with Friday the 4th afternoon offering a clean 7ft from the SSE with a 9-second period and a light offshore. It’s not the standout of the first week, but it’s a solid session.

So, bottom line: Sunday the 23rd is your best bet for a clean, powerful, fun day. Sunday the 30th is for the big-wave chargers. Everything else is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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