Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, looking at the next couple of weeks for Long Beach.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag coming up. The first few days are actually pretty decent, but then things get sloppy and blown out for a stretch, before a serious pulse of big, clean swell arrives in the back half of the window. The real standout is going to be that later period, especially for experienced surfers.

Thursday afternoon, July 16th, kicks things off with a solid 8ft SW swell at 13 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (1645), and with a light cross-offshore breeze, it's clean. Water temp is 59°, which is about normal for this time of year. That’s a good session to start.

Friday July 17th is a beauty. Morning is glassy, calm, with a 6ft SW swell (11 seconds). The energy drops a bit (835), but the conditions are pure glass. Afternoon stays clean with a light cross-off. This is a real treat.

Saturday July 18th, the wind switches. Morning is a cross-on with a 5ft swell, and it gets weaker in the afternoon. Still surfable but the quality drops. Sunday July 19th is a write-off in the morning – strong cross-on wind and poor surf. But don’t write it off entirely; Sunday afternoon cleans right up with a 6ft SW swell and a cross-off breeze. The energy is moderate (1098), and it’s a solid window.

Monday July 20th is worth an early alarm. Clear skies, glassy conditions, and a 5ft SSW swell. That’s a clean, fun morning. The afternoon goes a bit slack.

Alright, now here’s where it gets rough. From Tuesday July 21st through Wednesday July 23rd, the wind comes on strong. We’re looking at strong onshore and cross-on winds, with the swell jumping to 15ft on Wednesday. The energy is very strong (6795), but the wind is a mess. That’s not a paddle session; that setup is more interesting for kite surfing.

Thursday July 24th is where things turn a corner. Friday morning July 24th, we get an 12ft SW swell, long period at 15 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze. The energy is strong (5020), and the conditions are clean. This is very good for experienced surfers. The afternoon stays clean with a 10ft swell.

The real standout, the one you’re waiting for, is Saturday July 25th and Sunday July 26th. Saturday morning has a 13ft SW swell with a 16-second period, massive energy (7147), and clean conditions with a cross-off breeze. Sunday July 26th is the absolute peak: 12ft SW swell, 16 seconds, and a clean offshore breeze. The energy is very strong (6297). This is excellent, powerful surf for expert surfers only. The long period means it will be breaking straight at the beach, so look for a point or a reef if you want a better shape.

Monday July 27th and Tuesday July 28th still have good size, 7ft to 8ft, with clean conditions. Tuesday afternoon is a highlight with a glassy 8ft WSW swell, very long period at 15 seconds. That’s another clean, powerful session.

After that, the swell starts to fade and the wind gets messy again from Wednesday July 29th onward. July 30th and 31st are blown out and poor.

So, in short: get on it July 16th through July 20th for clean, fun waves. Then brace for a foul stretch. The real gold is the 24th through the 28th, with Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th being the absolute best on offer for experienced chargers. The crowds at Long Beach can be a thing, so be ready for that on the good days.

Rusty.

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