North Torrey Pines Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what’s coming down the line for our local stretch.

So, looking at the whole 16-day window, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a serious run of long-period groundswell coming through, but the wind gods aren't always playing ball. The first few days are going to be a struggle, but there’s a decent little window of cleaner conditions later on, and a real spike of size right at the end of the month.

North Torrey Pines is the only spot with any recommendations on the cards. The water is a whopping 74° right now, which is over 5° warmer than usual for the time of year – that’s really unusual, and it’s going to feel like a bath.

We start off this Tuesday morning, 21st July. The swell is a clean 3 ft from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, giving a moderate wave energy of 744. The wind is light and offshore, WSW at 6 mph. That’s a pretty good combo. The waves will have some real grunt to them from that long period, but at a beach break, it might be a bit too straight. It’s a beginner spot, so that 3 ft size is just right for learning, but the long period can make the sets a bit tricky to read. This is probably the best bet for the week, but don't expect perfection.

The rest of that week is a bit of a write-off for quality. The wind swings cross-onshore or onshore for most of the following days, messing up the surface. The swell sticks around the 3 ft to 4 ft mark, but with that onshore wind, it’s going to be a choppy mess. The wave energy jumps up to the 700-1200 range, showing there’s plenty of power, but it's all wasted with the wind. The Wednesday 22nd, the wind is a moderate 12 mph cross-onshore – that’s going to be pretty ugly.

Now, the following week, things get interesting for the size. On Friday, 31st July, the swell bumps up to 6 ft to 7 ft from the S, with a solid 14-15 second period. The wind is gentle and offshore from the WNW at 9 mph. That’s a clean setup. The wave energy is really strong at 2950 on the afternoon. That's a lot of power. Because it’s a long period south swell, North Torrey Pines is exposed to it, but at 7 ft, this is getting into expert territory. It’s going to be a big, powerful wave. The morning of the 31st is the standout, with clean 6 ft surf and gentle offshore winds. That’s the best session on offer in the whole outlook.

Into the first week of August, the swell drops right back. The 1st of August still has some 5 ft to 6 ft waves, but the wind is cross-onshore. By the 2nd of August, the wind cranks up to 16 mph cross-shore, and the swell drops to 3 ft with a short 11-second period. The energy drops down to 506. It’s going to be a bumpy, weak mess. The 3rd of August is even worse, with a short 8-second period and a 4 ft swell, but the wind is still a strong 12 mph cross-shore. That’s more of a kiteboarding day than a paddle day.

From the 4th of August onwards, the surf is small and weak, with the energy dropping below 500 and swell heights around 3 ft to 3 ft. The wind is light to moderate and mostly onshore or cross-onshore, so it’s pretty flat and messy. Not much to get excited about there.

So, if you're looking for the best, keep your eyes on the Friday, 31st July morning. That's your window for a big, clean, powerful session. The Tuesday morning is okay for a small, clean beginner wave, but the end of the month is the real standout.

Rusty.

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