Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Long Beach. To be brutally honest, mate, this doesn’t look like a great run. The whole sixteen-day window is a bit of a write-off for paddle surfing. The wind is locked in from the east, blowing cross-onshore day after day, and that’s just going to keep things choppy and lumpy. There’s no clean window to speak of, and the swell energy is a mixed bag. It’s the kind of setup that might get a kite surfer excited, but for the rest of us, it’s a tough watch. The water temperature is sitting at 84°F, which is about average for this time of year, so at least you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

Looking at the first few days, Monday the 3rd kicks off with a fresh breeze from the east at 19 mph and a short-period 5 ft east swell. The combined energy is weak at just 216, and the conditions are described as poor - "fresh cross-onshore and lumpy" isn't what you want to hear. Tuesday and Wednesday the 4th and 5th are much the same: moderate breezes, choppy surf, and swell heights dropping to around 3 ft to 4 ft. The energy dips to a very weak 73 on Wednesday morning, so you’re barely getting a wave.

Thursday the 6th sees the wind pick back up to 19 mph, and the swell bumps up to 5 ft-5 ft with energy climbing to 207-244, but it’s still that messy cross-onshore wind. Friday the 7th is no different, and the weekend of the 8th and 9th offers a bit more size at 5 ft-6 ft, but the wind is relentless from the east. Moderate to fresh breezes keep everything "moderate cross-onshore and choppy" or "fresh cross-onshore and lumpy."

From the 10th onwards, the pattern holds. Swell energy fluctuates, hitting moderate levels around 272 on the 8th, then building to strong levels on the 15th and 16th, with combined energy reaching 549 and 813. But the wind never lets up. By the 12th and 13th, we're looking at strong breeze conditions at 22-25 mph with risk of thunderstorms, making for "strong cross-onshore and messy" conditions. The swell pushes up to 6 ft-7 ft, and by the 15th it’s hitting 7 ft from the ENE with a period of 8 seconds. That’s a lot of water moving around, but with that wind, it’s just a washing machine.

Honestly, there isn’t a standout session in the whole outlook. The closest we get to a recommendation is perhaps the afternoon of the 15th of August, when the swell is 7 ft from the ENE, the wind briefly goes cross-shore at 19 mph, and the energy is strong at 549. But it’s still described as "cross-shore with lumpy cross-chop" - not exactly glassy perfection. For a spot that’s exposed to the southeast and can be inconsistent, we need the wind to play nice, and it just doesn’t. If you’re desperate, you might find a dodgy wave, but this is a kiteboarding week, not a surfing one.

Rusty

Read more