Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. I’m lookin’ at the whole 16-day window for Long Beach, and honestly, it’s a bit of a tough stretch. The wind is locked in from the east, blowing cross-onshore, and that’s gonna mess up the surface pretty much the whole time. It’s not a total write-off, but you’re gonna have to work for anything decent.

The first chance for a surf comes on Wednesday, July 22. We’re talkin’ a small, weak east swell – 4ft at a short 6 seconds, with combined energy at just 97. That’s pretty weak. The wind’s a moderate breeze from the east, so it’s cross-onshore and choppy. Not great, but it’s something. Water temp is about average for the time of year, so no worries there.

Thursday the 23rd is more of the same, with a bit more size in the morning – 4ft – but still that same onshore wind, making it lumpy. The swell period stays short at 6 seconds. By afternoon, the swell drops back to 3ft, and we’ve got a risk of thunderstorms. Not a fun session.

Friday the 24th sees a bump in energy. The morning swell hits 5ft from the east, period 7 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 324 (moderate). That’s the biggest push so far. But the wind is still cross-onshore from the east at 25 km/h, so it’s gonna be choppy. The afternoon drops a bit to 4ft but the period stretches to 8 seconds, which is a little better. Still, the wind doesn’t let up.

Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are similar – 4ft to 4ft, east-northeast swell, 8-second period. The wind stays cross-onshore and moderate. The energy is in the 200s, so there’s some push, but it’s never clean. Crowds are noted as “sometimes” at Long Beach, so you might have some company, but with the conditions, it won’t be a circus.

Now, the middle of the week, from the 28th of July through the 31st, the swell really starts to build. On Tuesday the 28th, we’re looking at 5ft to 6ft from the east, with period dropping to 7 seconds. Combined energy climbs to 339 – that’s solid moderate. But the wind is now a fresh breeze at 30 km/h, making it lumpy. Wednesday the 29th is the biggest: 7ft from the east, 8-second period, and combined energy hits 634 (strong). That’s a lot of water moving, but it’s all cross-onshore. The wind is 30-35 km/h, so it’s gonna be a messy, drifty mess. For a beach break, that’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle-surfing dream. The swell is over 7ft, so it’s expert territory anyway.

This pattern holds through the end of July and into the first few days of August. The swell stays between 5ft and 7ft, with east wind never letting up. The period stays around 7-8 seconds – short-period windswell, not groundswell. The energy numbers are strong (400-700 range), but the quality never improves. By the 4th of August, it drops back to 3ft to 4ft, and the energy fades to 97-156. The wind is still there, cross-onshore, until the last day on the 6th of August, where we see 5ft from the east-northeast at 7 seconds, with a fresh breeze.

So, the best on offer? Honestly, there’s no standout. The biggest swell is around the 29th of July, but the wind ruins it. The only thing I’d say is that if you’re desperate, the 24th of July morning has a bit of size (5ft) and the lowest wind speed (25 km/h), but it’s still cross-onshore. It’s not gonna be a classic. For the rest, you’re better off waiting for a change in the wind. This stretch is more about survival than glory.

Rusty

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