Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, I’m gonna level with you. The ocean is not cooperating at all. Looking at Long Beach, the only spot on the radar here, and honestly, it’s a poor run for the next 16 days. The forecast is pretty much a blank slate with no good surf on offer. It’s one of those stretches where the region just doesn’t have any decent options lined up.

Let’s start with the pattern. Right now, from Wednesday afternoon the 19th of August, we’ve got a stormy risk with cross-onshore winds howling at 19 mph, and the swell is a weak 5 ft from the ENE with a short period of 6 seconds. The combined energy is a paltry 221 – that’s weak, and it’s not going to do anything for you. The water temperature is sitting at 84°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

This grim outlook just keeps rolling. Through Thursday the 20th and Friday the 21st, we’re stuck with the same story: cross-onshore winds, lumpy conditions, and swell heights hovering around 5 ft to 6 ft but with short periods of 7-8 seconds. The energy stays moderate at best, topping out around 495 on Thursday morning. By Saturday the 22nd, it’s still messy – cross-onshore with a moderate breeze, and the swell drops to 4 ft by the afternoon. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th bring more of the same, with fresh cross-onshore winds and lumpy surf. The energy picks up a bit on Monday afternoon to 593, but with that wind and a short-period 8-second swell, it’s just not gonna be clean.

Now, there’s a gap of several days here where nothing changes. From Tuesday the 25th all the way through to the end of the month, it’s the same old cross-on winds and poor surf. The only hiccup is on Wednesday the 26th of August. That afternoon, the swell jumps to 12 ft from the E with a long period of 12 seconds, and the energy hits a massive 3602 – that’s very strong. The wind drops to a gentle breeze at 9 mph, but it’s still cross-on and fairly choppy. The forecast says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. At 12 ft, it’s only for experts, and even then, with that cross-on wind and the beach setup, it’s probably more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. So, I wouldn’t get too excited.

After that, we’re back to the same old story through the rest of the week and into early September. The wind stays cross-on, the swell is small and weak, and the energy drops off. By Wednesday the 2nd of September, the swell is down to 3 ft with a period of 7 seconds, and the energy is barely 168. It’s a total dud.

Look, I’ll be honest – this is a tough stretch for Long Beach. The spot is inconsistent to begin with, and with this run of poor conditions, it’s a long wait. The water’s average, the wind is relentless, and the swell just isn’t lining up. Keep your hopes up, though – forecasts can change, and it won’t stay this bad forever. For now, I’d save the gas and wait for a better window.

Rusty

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