Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for Long Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough outlook. The forecast shows a long run of poor surf conditions, and there’s nothing in the 16-day window that I’d call a true standout. The first recommendation doesn’t even come until the 3rd of September, and from there, it’s a grim stretch.

We’re looking at a persistent easterly cross-onshore wind for the vast majority of the period, with moderate to fresh breeze speeds of 12 to 22 mph. That’s just going to chop things up. The swell is coming from the east and east-northeast, with a short period of just 7 to 8 seconds, so it’s weak, messy wind swell. The combined energy ranges from 121 (moderate) early on, ramping up to a strong 659 by the 9th of September, but even with that energy, the wind and short period mean the wave quality is poor.

For the first week, from the 3rd through the 8th, we’re seeing swell heights around 3 ft to 6 ft, but it’s all cross-on and choppy. The water temperature is sitting at 85°F with an anomaly of 0.7°F, so it’s pretty average for the time of year – nothing to write home about.

Then from the 9th of September into the second week, the swell builds a bit, hitting 7 ft on the 9th morning with energy at 659, but the wind stays fresh and cross-onshore, and there’s a risk of thunderstorms. Anything over 5 ft in these conditions is just a washing machine, and over 8 ft would be for experts only, but we don’t hit that. The swell stays in the 4 ft to 7 ft range, but the period never gets above 8 seconds, so it’s never going to offer any real shape.

Because Long Beach is an exposed, inconsistent spot that breaks from the southeast, and the wind is constantly cross-onshore, this setup honestly looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. The wind is consistent, and the chop is manageable for a kite, but for a surfboard, it’s a no-go.

There’s a gap from the start of the forecast right through to the 3rd of September with no surf, and then the entire 16-day period is a write-off in terms of quality. Sorry, folks, but sometimes it’s like this. Forecasts can change, but for now, I’d leave the boards at home.

Rusty.

Read more