Manhattan Beach and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what South Bay’s got cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty flat and frustrating stretch ahead for Manhattan Beach and Pier. The water is sitting at a balmy 73°F, which is a solid 7°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a seriously unusual warm spell for September, almost like summer is hanging on with a death grip. But the warmth is about the only nice thing going on. The first real glimmer of anything worthwhile doesn’t show up until Thursday morning, the 10th. The overall vibe for most of this fortnight is onshore winds and undersized swell.

Now, let’s break it down day by day:

We’ve got a rough start. Monday the 7th and Tuesday the 8th are write-offs with small, junky onshore slop. Wednesday the 9th morning is a light tease with a tiny 1ft swell from the SW but a very long 19-second period – that’s some serious groundswell energy but just not enough height to do anything with.

Thursday, September 10th morning is easily the best option on the table. We’ve got a clean 2ft SSW swell pushing in with a solid 17-second interval. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSE, meaning the surface will be glassy. The combined energy reads a moderate 327 – it’s not huge, but for a beach break like Manhattan Pier, that long period will give you some proper shape and lines. It’s a beginner-friendly height, and with those conditions, it’s your best window. Crowds are often here, so expect company.

Friday the 11th morning is a repeat of that clean, light wind formula but with slightly smaller 2ft swell. Still worth a paddle if you missed Thursday.

Then we hit a major lull. From Saturday the 12th all the way through the middle of the next week, it’s a desert of tiny waves, choppy textures, and onshore junk. We’re looking at 1ft to 2ft surf and mostly poor conditions. Not even worth wetting the suit.

The next faint hope arrives on Sunday, September 20th morning. Another morning with light cross-offshore winds and a clean 2ft SSW swell, but this time with a very long 19-second period. The combined energy climbs back up to 358 (moderate). The waves will be lined up and clean, but that long period at a beach break can make them a bit straight and fat. Still, it’s the best-looking morning in the second week. Past that, Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd taper back into marginal, ordinary conditions.

So, bottom line: Thursday September 10th morning is the standout, with Sunday September 20th morning being a solid, albeit less certain, long-range bet. The rest of the window is pretty flat and messy.

Rusty.

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