Long Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer.

Well, I’ll be honest with you, it’s a pretty grim stretch for Long Beach. The whole 16-day outlook is a write-off for any decent paddle surf. The forecast is just a relentless run of poor surf conditions, day after day, with no real standout window at all.

Right from the start on Thursday, August 6th, we’ve got a weak 3ft swell from the ENE with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is a cross-onshore 16 mph. The water’s a warm 83°, about normal for the time of year, but the conditions are choppy and messy. The combined swell energy is only moderate at 209, and it’s all downhill from there.

The pattern just keeps repeating. Through Friday, the weekend, and into the next week, the swell stays small, between 3ft and 5ft, and the period is short, usually 6 to 8 seconds. The wind is almost always cross-onshore from the east or east-northeast, blowing 12 to 19 mph, keeping the surface lumpy and choppy. The combined energy dips as low as 106 at times, so there’s just no power in the water.

As we head into the second week, around August 13th and 14th, the swell does start to build. By Friday the 14th, we’re looking at 8ft from the ENE with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 910. That’s a strong swell, but the wind is cranking hard at 25 mph, cross-onshore, making it a total mess. That sizeable, onshore wind-swell mix is more interesting for kite surfing than paddling.

The swell stays around 7ft to 8ft through the weekend of the 16th and into the start of the following week, with the energy staying strong, peaking at 913 on the 16th. But the wind stays cross-onshore, and the conditions are consistently described as poor. Even with that bigger swell, it’s just not clean enough for us.

The last stretch from the 18th to the 21st sees the swell gradually drop back down to 4ft, with the wind still cross-onshore and the energy fading to 191. So, from start to finish, there’s no break in the pattern.

Long Beach is an exposed spot, but it’s inconsistent, and with the wind coming from the east and northeast, it’s just not delivering. Honestly, there’s nothing to get excited about here. Keep the board in the bag and wait for a better forecast, because this is a solid 16-day blank. You might get a kite session in there if you’re into that, but for paddle surfing, it’s a no-go.

Rusty.

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