Manhattan Beach and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about the next couple of weeks at Manhattan Beach and Pier.

Overall, it’s looking like a real mixed bag. We’ve got a consistent run of small, rideable swell coming in from the southwest, but the winds are going to be our biggest headache. The water is feeling like a bathtub, running a massive 6° warmer than usual for this time of year, so you can leave the wetsuit at home.

Friday, July 17 kicks things off with a clean little 1ft swell from the SW. The period is a very long 19 seconds, which is pure groundswell energy and will give you long, smooth walls. The morning is the time to be out, with a glassy cross-off wind keeping the surface clean. The combined energy is moderate (188), so don’t expect any barrel, but it’s a fun little cruiser for a beginner log. The afternoon turns into a bumpy cross-shore mess, so bag it by lunch.

Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19 are a tease. The swell bumps up to 2ft, and the energy is climbing (281 and 326), but the wind is all over the place. Saturday morning is clean with a cross-off breeze, which is your best window. Sunday morning is light and criss-crossed, making it frustrating. The afternoons are both hopeless with a cross-onshore chop.

We then hit a rough patch. From Monday, July 20 through to Thursday, July 23, the swell stays small (2ft to 3ft), but the wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore, churning the surface into a bumpy mess. The energy is moderate to strong (374 to 576), but it’s all wasted on poor conditions. This stretch is a write-off unless you’re a kite surfer looking for some lumpy, wind-driven chop.

Friday, July 24 is the standout. The swell holds at 2ft, but the period jumps to a very long 24 seconds, which is about as pure as it gets. The combined energy is a strong 521. The morning is clean with a light cross-off breeze from the SSE. This is the best session of the whole forecast. Get on it early. The afternoon clouds over and the wind swings, killing the quality.

The second week is a bit of a waiting game. Saturday, July 25 through Thursday, July 31 sees the swell holding between 2ft and 4ft, with the energy fluctuating between moderate and strong (566 to 930). The problem is that most mornings are plagued by a light cross-onshore breeze, keeping the surface just a little too rippled for perfection. The best bet in this run is Thursday, July 30 morning, with a clean 3ft swell from the SSW and a light cross-off wind. Friday, July 31 morning has a slightly bigger 3ft swell from the S, but the wind is cross-onshore, so it’s a gamble.

Saturday, August 1 ends the run with a drop in swell size (3ft) and a much shorter period (11 seconds), meaning weaker, less organized waves. The afternoon is a choppy mess with a moderate breeze.

So, the clear winner is Friday, July 24 morning. That long-period groundswell and glassy conditions are the only real gold in this forecast. The rest is small, clean windows and frustrating chop.

Rusty.

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