Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this outlook for Long Beach is a tough one to write. We’ve got a solid 16-day window ahead, starting from August 21st, but the problem isn’t a lack of swell. The problem is that the wind is just relentless, and it’s coming from the wrong direction. Every single day, without a break, we’re seeing a cross-onshore flow, mostly from the east and east-northeast.

For the entire month of August, it’s a write-off. We’re looking at every morning and afternoon from the 21st right through to the 31st being described as either "poor surf conditions" or "marginal." The wave energy is moderate to strong – for instance, on August 29th we see a combined energy of 1875, and the swell height creeps up to 8ft with a period of 10 seconds. That’s a decent amount of water moving around, but the wind is just going to wreck it. It’s going to be lumpy, choppy, and just not fun to paddle into. The only slight, and I mean *slight*, hope is the morning of August 31st. We get a light breeze, the swell is still around 6ft from the east, and the guidance calls it "marginal." It’s a fleeting chance, but the cross-onshore wind is still there, so don’t get your hopes up.

Moving into September, the pattern doesn’t really change. September 1st and 2nd are more of the same: moderate cross-onshore winds and choppy surf. The wind does back off a touch on the afternoon of the 3rd, but by that point the swell is still messy. The latter part of the first week of September and into the second week – the 4th and 5th – is just a repeat performance. The swell direction is mostly east and east-northeast, with periods between 7 and 10 seconds, and the wave energy stays in the moderate to strong range, but that cross-onshore wind is the enemy.

Honestly, there’s no standout here. There is no session I can point to and say "that’s the one." The forecast confidence is actually high because the wind pattern looks locked in. For a break like Long Beach that’s exposed to the east and needs that offshore wind from the northwest to clean it up, this is a brutal stretch. The water temp is about average for this time of year, but you won’t care about that when you’re fighting a cross-onshore chop.

If you absolutely must get wet, the beginning of August 31st is the only time the wind drops, but it’s still a cross-on situation. For the rest of it, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, because there’s enough wind and swell to get moving, but it’s just ugly for a traditional surfer. A long, dry spell with no good waves to recommend. That’s just the way it goes sometimes. Keep the board waxed and wait for the wind to swing.

Rusty.

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