Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright surfers, Rusty here. Let’s get into the 16-day picture for Long Beach, a sandbar set-up that’s fairly consistent but takes a bit of reading before you get it right.

Right off the bat, Wednesday the 12th looks okay to test the water. The water temp is sitting at 57°, which is nearly three and a half degrees colder than the norm for this time of year – yeah, that’s a bit of a shock to the system when you first get in. Expect a solid 6ft to 7ft of SW groundswell with a very long period of 17-18 seconds, packing a punch with wave energy reading 2681 (moderate to strong). Problem is, the wind is light but cross, so the surface isn’t going to be that clean. It’s a ‘have a look’ kinda day, not a standout.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are both blown out or messy. Thursday morning starts clean with light offshore NNE wind and 8ft SW swell (3747 energy), but the forecast flags marginal surf, so the sandbar might be shifting or the tide is off. By Friday, that 12 mph north wind kills the surface completely. Saturday the 15th is where we start to see a real window. Light offshore SSE wind on the morning session, 6ft swell from the WSW, period at 13 seconds, and the call is for very good conditions. The afternoon stays clean too. That morning session – that’s your standout for the first week. Clean, fun-sized, and consistent enough.

Sunday the 16th goes back to a northerly wind – onshore and bumpy. Skip it. Monday the 17th gets interesting though. We’ve got a stronger 8ft SW swell with 13-second period and moderate cross-off wind from the SSE. Combined energy hits 2477. That is solid power, but that’s getting up into the expert-friendly zone, especially on a sandbar. It won’t be a beginner wave. The afternoon holds at 8ft, clean lines. This is a good call for experienced crew.

Tuesday the 18th looks sweet again. Morning has light offshore SSE wind, 6ft WSW swell, and clean conditions. The energy drops to 1232, but the quality is high for the size. Tuesday afternoon holds with a gentle offshore from the south. That’s your second standout.

After a wind spike on Wednesday the 19th with strong SE gusts (28 mph) churning stuff up, we get a shift. Thursday the 20th sees a new, short-period SE swell at 6ft to 8ft, only 7 seconds. That’s a windswell – less power, which is reflected in the energy readings dropping to around 791-974. The wind is clean and offshore, so it might be fun on a longboard for the morning, but don’t expect heavy barrels. Friday the 21st drops right off – swell fades to 3ft to 4ft.

The second week is patchy. Saturday the 22nd has moderate 5ft SW swell but strong cross-off wind at 22 mph – that’s gusty and clean, but the energy is moderate. Not a standout. Sunday the 23rd looks the pick of the second week. Gentle ESE to SE cross-off wind, 6ft SW swell (13 secs), and the call is for very good conditions. That morning is worth your time.

The end of the run has one last spicy moment. Tuesday the 25th starts dead still – glassy, with a tiny 3ft SW groundswell but a massive 19-second period. That’s a weird one, and it won’t be powerful, but it might line up on a glassy bank. But check Tuesday afternoon: 6ft SW swell, 17 seconds, gentle offshore wind from the SSE, energy hits 1944, and conditions are called very good. That is the sleeper standout of the entire forecast. Don’t sleep on it.

Overall, the first week shapes up better than the second. Your two best bets are Saturday morning the 15th and Tuesday afternoon the 25th. Expect crowds on the better days though, this spot sees people often when it’s clean.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

Read more