Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s talk about what’s cooking for Long Beach. It’s a sandbar set-up, fairly consistent for an intermediate surfer, but the timing is everything.

The next few days are a mixed bag, but there’s some absolute gold hiding in this 16-day window if you’re patient. The week starts with a bit of a dud, so don’t rush out on the first day. On Saturday morning, the 1st of August, a 4ft WSW swell is running but a light cross-onshore breeze messes with the surface. You’ll get small wind ripples and the energy is only moderate (708). Wait until that afternoon – the wind swings offshore from the south, cleaning up that same 4ft SW swell (528 energy). It’s not huge, but it’ll be clean.

Sunday the 2nd is a write-off. Onshore winds from the north in the morning turn cross-onshore in the afternoon. Just stay home.

Now, Monday the 3rd of August is your first standout. Glassy conditions in the morning – zero wind from the NNW – and a solid 4ft WSW groundswell (period of 14 seconds) pumping energy up to 1071. That’s a moderate energy value, but with glassy conditions, those waves will be clean. Long-period swells like this love a sandbar for shape, but be aware it might break a bit straight at times. The afternoon holds offshore SSE winds. This is a great day to be out.

Tuesday the 4th keeps the clean vibes going with offshore and cross-off winds, though the swell drops slightly to 5ft and then 4ft with a shorter 11-second period. Good, but not the standout.

Then we hit the wall. Wednesday the 5th of August pumps up to a big 8ft to 10ft SW swell, but the onshore wind is a brutal 35 km/h from the NNW. Combined energy jumps into the strong range (2496-3569), but with those winds, it’s a no-go for a paddle – might be a kite day.

Thursday the 6th is where the swell gets serious but challenging. A massive 15ft SW swell (energy at 6673 – very strong) with offshore SSE winds at 20 km/h. This is "excellent for experienced surfers" but well over 8ft, so it’s experts only. If you’re not solid, sit this one out. The afternoon stays clean but cross-off.

Friday the 7th sees the swell drop to 10ft but with cross and cross-onshore winds creating chop. Not ideal. Saturday the 8th has strong cross-off and offshore winds with a 13ft to 10ft SW swell (energy still in the 5000+ range), but the forecast flags "marginal surf" – maybe tricky tides.

The real powerhouse arrives on Sunday the 9th and Monday the 10th of August. This is the second standout, and it’s huge. A 21ft to 25ft SW swell with 13-second periods and strong offshore/cross-off winds (40 km/h). Energy levels go through the roof: 14852 to 17935. This is serious, heavy, powerful surf – for elite big-wave chargers only. The energy is in the very strong category. Even the smaller 20ft days from Monday the 10th onward are still massive.

After that, the swell gradually fades through the middle of the month. The week of the 12th to the 14th sees dropping 5ft to 4ft SW swells, but with cross-off winds, they’re rideable though nothing special.

Your final standout comes on Saturday, the 15th of August. Glassy morning conditions again, with a 8ft WSW groundswell (14-second period) and energy at 1913. The afternoon turns offshore. This is the sweet spot for a strong session without the insanity of the big 20ft+ days. It’s a good size, clean, and with that longer period it’ll have punch.

Water temp is 59°F, which is about average for the time of year.

So, in short: Monday the 3rd of August for the glassy gold, and Saturday the 15th of August for a clean, powerful session. The big stuff from the 9th to the 11th is for the hardcore crew only.

Rusty out.

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