Manhattan Beach and Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s gonna be a real struggle for the next week or so. The surf is tiny and the wind is mostly a messy cross-onshore, so we’re looking at a lot of lumpy, gutless conditions. The best we can say is there’s a pulse of energy coming for the second week, but we gotta earn it.

We start with Wednesday morning, August 26th. Manhattan Beach and Pier is seeing a weak 3 ft southerly swell, but with a period of 12 seconds, there’s a little bit of push behind it. The combined energy is weak though, at just 338, and the wind is a light cross-onshore. It’s not surfable for a decent wave. The water is a very unusual 72°, which is a massive 6° warmer than normal – feels like a bath, but that’s about the only positive.

Thursday morning August 27th brings a tiny drop in size to 1 ft from the southwest, with a longer 14 second period. The combined energy is low at 172. The wind finally goes light cross-off, so the surface will be clean, but there’s just no power. It’s a glassy ankle-snapper.

Friday August 28th morning is more of the same – 2 ft at 17 seconds from the south-southwest, but the combined energy is still weak at 271. The wind is a light cross-onshore, keeping it bumpy. It’s a frustrating mix of a long period that would be gorgeous if it had any size.

The weekend (August 29th-30th) grinds on with little change. The swell bumps up to 3 ft - 3 ft from the south-southwest, and the combined energy climbs into the moderate range (471-492). The period is still a solid 15-17 seconds. But the wind stays cross-shore to cross-onshore, so the surface is just a mess of ripples. It’s a constant tease.

We then hit a real dry spell from Monday September 1st right through to Wednesday September 3rd morning. The surf is basically non-existent or blown out, with wave heights struggling to stay above 2 ft and the energy dropping. It’s a quiet, dead period.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. The standout window is on Thursday, September 3rd. The morning brings a 4 ft south-southwest swell with a 13-second period, and a combined energy of 574 – that’s a solid moderate push. The wind is onshore, but it’s light. Then the afternoon is the real gem. The wind swings to the southwest and goes glassy. That 4 ft swell, with a 12-second period, will be absolutely clean. The energy is 535, so it’s got some punch. For a spot like Manhattan Beach Pier, this is about as good as it gets in this forecast. The crowd factor is “often” busy, so expect company, but with clean, glassy conditions and a rideable swell, it’s hands-down the best session on offer.

After that, Friday September 4th drops back to 2 ft - 3 ft, with a very long 17-second period. The swell direction is good (south-southwest), but the wind is a light cross-onshore again, so it won’t be as pristine. The energy is moderate (412). It’s a far cry from the glassy Thursday.

The final week (September 5th to 10th) is a slow fade. The swell stays small, around 2 ft - 3 ft, with the wind turning mostly cross-onshore or onshore and occasionally picking up to 12 mph. The combined energy is weak to moderate. There’s nothing to recommend here. We see a few morning windows with light winds, but the swell is just too anemic to get excited about.

Bottom line: If you’ve got a window, Thursday September 3rd afternoon is the clear winner – glassy, clean, and with a proper 4 ft groundswell. Everything else is a write-off or a marginal gamble. The long gap of poor conditions from now until then is a real bummer, but that one afternoon is worth waiting for.

Rusty.

Read more