Malibu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your stick and listen up. This is Rusty, and we’re looking at a classic case of "nearly, but not quite" for this stretch. The ocean's got the muscle but the wind gods aren't playing ball for most of the run, so we gotta pick our moments carefully.

The forecast kicks off with some serious groundswell energy building through the weekend, pushing that combined energy well into the thousands. The water’s sitting at a noticeably cool 74°, which is a bit colder than normal for the time of year, so you might want a thicker spring suit if you’ve got one.

Friday the 10th through Sunday the 12th is a write-off for Malibu. Swell is solid, 6 ft up to 8 ft from the S/SSW, with a long 16-second period, but it’s getting chopped up by moderate cross and cross-onshore breezes. The wave comment calls it “marginal” at best, and I agree. It’s messy out there.

Then Monday morning, July 13th, things get interesting. The swell drops a bit to 5 ft from the SSW, but the real story is the wind turning light and cross-offshore. That wave energy reading is moderate, but the key is it’ll be clean. The forecast is actually calling for “very good surf conditions,” and that is the standout of the entire outlook. For a break like Malibu that can get fickle, this is your window. Get out there before the wind swings onshore in the afternoon.

After Monday, the bottom falls out. From Monday afternoon all the way through to the 25th of July, we’re looking at a long dry spell. Swell drops to under 3 ft for days on end, with weak energy readings barely cracking 200. Wind is mostly cross-onshore or onshore, and the wave comments are all “poor surf conditions.” There's a tiny blip on the 22nd with a 4 ft from the SE and 13-second period, but the wind is a messy moderate cross-shore, so it’s still a no-go.

The last chance in this 16-day window pops up on Thursday, July 23rd. Swell jumps back up to a solid 10 ft from the ESE with a 12-second period – that combined energy is massive. That’s expert-level power. But the wind is a moderate cross-shore, which will make it lumpy and tough to handle. It’s "marginal" at best. If you’re a seasoned charger, you might find some big, unruly walls, but for the average surfer, this one is better left to the kite boards.

So, the plan is simple: mark your calendar for Monday morning, July 13th. That’s the only truly good surf on offer. The rest is either flat, windy, or way too raw for a fun session. Keep an eye on the forecast though; in this area, a blank run like this doesn't usually last forever.

Rusty.

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