Malibu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, the outlook is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a solid, long period groundswell on the horizon, but the winds are going to be a constant battle. The water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 71°F at Malibu (Malibu) – a good 7°F above average, which is pretty wild.

The first real chance of a wave kicks off on Sunday, 20 July. The morning session at Malibu could offer up some 4ft swell from the south with an 11-second period. The wind is straight onshore, though, so it’ll be a bit of a fight. The afternoon cleans up a little with a cross-shore breeze, but it’s still not perfect. The combined energy is moderate (345 on Sunday morning, rising to 529 in the afternoon). It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s a start.

The standout, and I mean the real standout, looks like Friday, 24 July morning. A very long period groundswell of 24 seconds rolls in from the SW, pushing 2ft of swell. Now, don’t let the size fool you – that period is insane. The combined energy is moderate (876), but the real magic is the light onshore wind. At a point break like Malibu, that long period groundswell will wrap in beautifully, offering clean, lined-up waves with long lulls between sets. This is the one to circle on the calendar.

Saturday, 25 July is a similar story with a 21-second period from the SW. The swell is a touch smaller at 2ft, but the wind is light and variable in the morning, which is a massive plus. The afternoon will see a cross-shore breeze pick up, but the morning should be pure glass. The energy is moderate (794).

After that, the swell periods drop back, and the winds stay a bit tricky. We get a few days of marginal conditions with cross-onshore breezes and 3ft to 3ft swell. Sunday, 26 July and Monday, 27 July have some potential with light winds, but the swell energy is still moderate (573 to 719) and the cross-onshore flow will leave a bit of a bump on the surface.

There’s a rise in swell size around Thursday, 31 July and into Saturday, 1 August with the swell hitting 4ft to 5ft from the south. This is borderline for the beginners, but the bigger issue is the wind. The morning of the 1st has light onshore winds, which could be okay, but it’s a long way out. The combined energy is creeping up into the strong range (902 on the 1st morning), so there’s some power there.

The last few days of the run, Sunday, 2 August and Monday, 3 August, see the swell drop off quickly. The periods get shorter, and the winds don’t cooperate. The energy drops to 159 on the 3rd, which is weak. The run fizzles out.

So, if you’re picking your moment, Friday, 24 July morning is the one to get excited about. That long period groundswell will make Malibu look its best. The Saturday before that is a close second. The rest is a waiting game, but remember, the long-range stuff is promising but not set in stone.

Rusty.

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