Malibu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let's take a look at what's coming our way.

Overall, the next 16 days are looking pretty flat and frustrating for Malibu. We've got a long stretch of small, weak swell and tricky winds that's going to leave you scratching for a wave. Don't get too excited about any of this until we hit the second week, and even then, it's a low-energy affair.

The first real sniff of anything surfable kicks off on Friday the 28th of August. It's not much to write home about. We're looking at a 2ft swell from the SSW with a very long 19-second period, and that combined wave energy is sitting at 437 (moderate). The problem is the wind is a cross-onshore breeze, so it'll be a bit bumpy and messy. That long period means the sets will be fat and drawn out at a point break like Malibu, and you'll be waiting a while between them. Water temps are sitting at 74°, which is over 7° warmer than usual for this time of year – that's very unusual, so you can pretty much forget the wetsuit.

Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see the swell bump up just a touch to 3ft, still from the SSW. The period drops from 19 to 17 seconds, making it a bit more manageable. Saturday morning looks the best of the bunch with light winds and a cross-offshore breeze, giving you cleaner conditions, but the wave energy is still moderate (678). The crowds at Malibu are always a problem, and on a weekend with the only rideable waves in town, you can bet it'll be packed.

From Monday the 31st of August all the way through to Saturday the 5th of September, it's poor to marginal. The swell drops back under 3ft, the energy fades, and the wind is almost never in our favour. This stretch is a write-off.

The first real standout of the whole forecast happens on Saturday the 5th of September, the morning session. The swell is still a modest 3ft from the SSW, with a 16-second period and a combined energy of 469. But here's the kicker – the wind is forecast to be glassy. That's a major positive. For a few hours, Malibu will be clean and smooth. This is your best chance for a wave with a bit of shape, but don't expect much power. It will be inconsistent and small, but it'll be pretty.

Monday the 7th of September morning also offers up glassy conditions with a 3ft SSW swell, a repeat of the same scenario – clean but tiny.

The rest of the forecast just trails off. Wednesday the 9th of September sees the swell nudge up to 4ft from the S, but the period is short at 12-13 seconds and the wind is cross-onshore, making it lumpy. The energy is moderate (525), but the quality won't be there.

Hopefully the forecasts change, because this stretch usually turns things around. For now, if you've got a longboard and patience, the glassy mornings are your only window. This is Rusty, signing off.

Read more