Manhattan Beach and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

It’s not the most exciting start, but we’ve got a few clean windows to get wet. The first week is mostly small, but there are a couple of mornings with a bit of cross-off wind that’ll keep things clean. The swell is weak to moderate – energy sits around 395 to 660 units – so don’t expect any barrels. The second week drops off a cliff, with nearly nothing worth paddling for after the first few days of August. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.

We’ll start with Manhattan Beach and Pier on Friday morning, July 24. The swell is tiny at 2ft from the SSW, but that 24-second period is proper long-period groundswell. It’s clean with a light cross-off wind from the SSE. The wave energy is moderate (568). For a beach break, that long period can make things a bit straight, but with the clean conditions, it’s still a fun one for a longboard.

The real standout is Thursday morning, July 30. The swell is 2ft from the SSE, with a period of 15 seconds. The wind is light and cross-off from the SSE, so it’s clean. The combined energy is moderate (458). For a beach break, that’s about as good as it gets for the size. It’s a great morning for a quiet, glassy session. Crowds are often an issue here, so you’ll want to be early.

Saturday the 25th through to Wednesday the 29th are all marginal. Mornings are generally clean, but the swell is all below 3ft. The wind is mostly cross or light cross-on, so the surf will be small and a little bumpy on the afternoons. Not a single session is a standout, but if you’re desperate, the mornings are the pick.

After the 31st of July, it gets worse. The swell picks up to 4ft on the 1st of August, but the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, making it choppy. The energy is moderate (around 537 to 561), but the quality is poor. The waves are short period – 13 seconds – so it’s just messy windswell.

From the 2nd of August onward, the surf drops to nearly nothing. Swell heights are 1ft to 2ft, with weak energy (under 150 units). The wind is either cross or cross-on, and the conditions are poor. This is a long run of flat days, possibly lasting until the end of the forecast period. The waves are too small and weak to ride seriously.

Look, if you’re a kite surfer, the onshore wind days in late July and early August might be more interesting for you. For a paddle surfer, it’s a tough forecast. The only real window is the first week, and even that is small. Stay optimistic – forecasts can change, and it’s usually not this quiet for long.

Rusty.

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