Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Long Beach. It’s a sandbar set-up, fairly consistent, and it likes a swell from the SW. Water temp is sitting at 59.5°, which is pretty much bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The forecast starts off with a bit of a slow burn. Saturday afternoon the 18th, we’ve got a 3.6ft SW swell rolling in at 13 seconds, but the wind is a cross-on from the NW at 9 mph, and the surf is poor. The combined energy is weak (741). Not worth wetting a wetsuit for.

Sunday morning the 19th is more of the same – a bigger 6.2ft WSW swell, but still cross-on and choppy. Energy is picking up (1655), but the conditions are still poor. However, Sunday afternoon, the wind swings to a light WSW cross-off at 3 mph, and the swell cleans up to 7.5ft from the SW at 9 seconds. The energy is moderate (978), and the surf is good. That’s a solid afternoon session for an intermediate.

Monday the 20th is a bit of a mixed bag. Morning brings a 5.6ft SW swell with a light offshore from the NNW at 6 mph, but the surf is marginal. Afternoon drops to 3.0ft from the SW, 10 seconds, with a light cross-shore. Energy is low (414). Not a standout.

Now, Tuesday the 21st is where it gets interesting. The morning has a 7.9ft SSW swell, 14 seconds, with a light offshore from the north. Energy is strong (2224). The data says marginal, but the potential is there. But the real magic is Tuesday afternoon: it goes glassy, with a 8.2ft SW swell at 13 seconds. The energy is strong (2468), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a standout. The swell is big enough to get your heart pumping, and the glassy surface will make it smooth as silk. This is the best on offer in the first week.

Wednesday the 22nd takes a turn for the worse. Strong onshore winds from the NNW at 19-22 mph ruin the 7.5ft SW swell. Poor conditions. Thursday the 23rd is a write-off too, with onshore winds and a messy 6.9ft swell.

Friday the 24th is the next real standout. The morning is glassy, with a 11.5ft SW swell at 14 seconds. The energy is very strong (4334), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. This is a big day – only for those who know what they’re doing. The afternoon stays clean with a light offshore from the south, still 9.8ft from the SW. Two top-tier sessions on the same day.

Saturday the 25th is still surfable, with a 7.9ft SW swell in the morning, but a moderate cross-off from the SE at 16 mph keeps it from being premium. The energy is moderate (1883). The afternoon drops to 5.6ft.

Sunday the 26th is a nice, clean day. The morning is glassy, with a 3.6ft WSW swell at 11 seconds. Energy is low (708), but it’s clean. The afternoon gets a solid 4.6ft SSW swell, 16 seconds, with a clean offshore. Energy is moderate (1583), and the surf is very good. A great session for a longboard or a funboard.

Monday the 27th has a 6.9ft SW swell in the morning with a moderate offshore, but the wind is up. The energy is moderate (1567). The afternoon is clean but marginal.

From Tuesday the 28th through to Friday the 31st, the swell is big – 11.5ft down to 6.2ft – but the wind is up from the SE, 16-34 mph. It’s cross-off, so it’s clean, but the energy is very strong (up to 5702). For a sandbar, this size and wind setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The waves will be big and powerful, but the wind and swell combo will make it a battle.

Saturday the 1st of August is a change. The morning has a 11.5ft SE swell, 9 seconds, with a light cross-shore, making it marginal. But the afternoon is a beauty: 9.8ft SE swell, 9 seconds, with a light cross-off from the WSW. Energy is very strong (2961), and the conditions are excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a solid afternoon wave.

Finally, Sunday the 2nd of August wraps it up with a 8.2ft SW swell, 17 seconds in the morning and 16 seconds in the afternoon. The morning is light cross-on, but the afternoon is glassy. Energy is very strong (4954 in the morning, 4124 in the afternoon). The afternoon is excellent for experienced surfers. A very long-period groundswell, so it will be powerful and clean. That’s the best wave of the second week.

So, to sum it up: the true standouts are Tuesday afternoon the 21st and Friday the 24th. Both offer big, clean SW swell with glassy or light offshore wind. The rest of the period has some good waves, but those two days are the ones to circle on the calendar.

R

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