Malibu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long, hard look at what’s coming down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a bit of a flat spell ahead. We’ve got a small window of rideable surf right at the start, but then it’s going to be a long, quiet stretch. The water is sitting at a very warm 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least the conditions will be comfortable for a paddle.

We kick things off on Wednesday, July 29th, with some actual swell in the water. The standout by far is the early morning session at Malibu. It’s a point break, very consistent, and it’s exposed to the swell. We’re looking at a clean 3ft SSW swell with a super long period of 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell, meaning a lot of energy and long waits between sets. The combined wave energy is moderate (721), and the wind is a light SSE breeze, coming straight offshore. That’s going to glass the place off. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, but with that long period, it’ll be peeling nicely down the point. Crowds are always a factor here, so expect company.

Thursday, July 30th, the swell drops a notch. The morning is still an offshore light breeze, but the swell is smaller and the energy is weakening. The better bet is the afternoon session, where the swell picks up to 4ft from the south with a 14-second period, and the wind is a light cross-shore from the WSW. The combined energy is moderate (630), and the light cross-shore will keep it pretty clean. It’s not the magic of Wednesday, but it’s still surfable.

Friday, July 31st, is a drop-off. The morning has a little bump, but it’s cross-on shore and the energy is fading. The afternoon gets worse with a stronger cross-shore wind and poor surf conditions. Saturday, August 1st, the wave height drops to 2ft, and the energy is weak. From Sunday, August 2nd, all the way through to Thursday, August 13th, it’s a rough patch. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft, with weak energy readings (often below 100). The wind is light, but the swell just isn’t there. The forecast is calling for “poor surf conditions” for day after day.

There’s a faint glimmer on the morning of Friday, August 7th, where the swell period jumps to 19 seconds, but the height is still a pathetic 1ft. The combined energy is moderate (207), but that’s all period and no height. It’s a tease. The same goes for Saturday, August 8th, with a 17-second period, but still only 2ft of swell. Without any size, those long-period swells won’t have enough power to wrap in properly.

So, the honest truth: the best on offer is Wednesday morning, July 29th, at Malibu. That’s your one real shot at a clean, fun wave in the next two weeks. After that, it’s a long stretch of barely a ripple. Keep your eyes on the charts, because forecasts can change, but for now, the board’s getting a rest.

Rusty.

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