Malibu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee, let's talk about Malibu. It’s a classic point break, exposed to the swell, and it's a beginner-friendly wave when it's working. The water is running at a very unusual 72°F right now – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, so you might not even need a spring suit for the early sessions.

The first few days are a bit of a tease. Thursday morning, July 23rd, we’ve got a clean-looking sky but a cross-on breeze from the SW at 6 mph. Swell is a small 3ft from the south, with a period of 13 seconds. The energy is moderate (531), but the wave comment says "marginal surf forecast". It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for it. That trend continues through Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – waves stay small, between 2ft and 3ft, with a lot of cross-onshore or onshore wind. The period on Friday morning jumps to 24 seconds, which is groundswell, but it’s tiny at 2ft, so it’s mostly just a long-period bump that won't wrap in well on a point like this. Not worth getting excited about.

The real action starts to build towards the end of the month. Monday, July 27th, sees a slight bump to 4ft from the SW, but it’s still onshore and the comment is still marginal. The energy is picking up though (740). Then on Tuesday, July 28th, it’s a bit more of the same, 3ft.

Then we hit the standouts. Friday morning, July 31st is the first real moment. The swell jumps to 4ft from the SSE, with a period of 16 seconds. The wind is light and onshore, but the combined energy jumps to a strong 1133. That’s proper wave energy for a point break. It’s not perfect wind, but with that much energy, the sets will have some push. The wave comment is still "marginal", but the score bumps up to a 2 out of 10, which is the highest we’ve seen so far. This is the one to watch.

Saturday morning, August 1st, is the standout. The swell is 6ft from the south, period of 14 seconds, and the energy is still strong at 1114. The wind is light and onshore from the S. This is the biggest swell of the whole forecast. At 6ft, it’s getting solid for a point, and it’s going to be a bit much for complete beginners. The period is moderate, so it won’t be too straight, but that size will push through. The score is a 3 out of 10, the best of the entire outlook. This is the session to aim for if you’re comfortable in head-high surf.

After that, it drops off quickly. Sunday, August 2nd, it’s already fading to 4ft with a poor surf condition. Then from Monday, August 3rd, through to the end of the outlook on August 7th, it’s all small and weak. Waves are 1ft to 2ft, energy is under 130, and the conditions are consistently poor. There’s a long stretch of flat, small, and messy days. The swell direction shifts to the SW, but there’s just no size or energy. It’s a proper end-of-summer lull.

So, the pick of the bunch is Saturday morning, August 1st at Malibu. Get out there for the 6ft south swell. The Friday before it (July 31st) is a decent runner-up if you want a slightly smaller option. After that, put the board away for a week.

Rusty.

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