North Torrey Pines Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The next 16 days offer a real mixed bag for North Torrey Pines, with a lot of marginal conditions and a few periods where the swell ticks up a notch. The ocean is running unusually warm right now – the water temperature is sitting at 75°, which is a solid 8° warmer than average for this time of year. That’s a real standout, and it’s going to feel like bathwater out there.

The first real bit of action kicks off on Thursday, July 23rd. A 4ft S swell is rolling in with a 13-second period, giving a moderate wave energy of 679. The wind is from the WNW at 15 km/h, which is offshore, but the tide and conditions are still a bit questionable. It’s a start, but it’s not the cleanest.

Moving into Friday, July 24th, the swell drops right off. We’re seeing 2ft from the SW in the morning, but the wind is cross-onshore, making it choppy. The energy is moderate at 974, but the quality just isn’t there. The afternoon stays small and messy.

Saturday, July 25th, is more of the same – small, cross-onshore, and not really worth racing for. The swell bumps up to 3ft from the SSW, but the period is a bit shorter, and the wind is not cooperating.

Sunday, July 26th, sees a slight increase to 4ft from the SW, with a 19-second period in the morning. That’s a long-period groundswell, which means better shaped waves, but it’s still cross-onshore at 15 km/h. The energy is strong at 1006, but the chop is a problem.

Things start to get a little more interesting around Monday, July 27th, and Tuesday, July 28th. The swell builds to 4ft to 5ft from the SSW, with periods around 17 to 19 seconds. The wind is light, only 10 km/h, but still cross-onshore, so the surface is a bit bumpy. The energy is strong, hitting 1153 and 1223. This is the best run of the whole forecast, but it’s still not a true standout due to the wind angle.

The real standout comes late in the window. On Friday, July 31st, the swell jumps up to 6ft from the S, with a 14-second period and a massive energy of 1406. The wind is from the W at 15 km/h, which is offshore. That’s going to be the biggest, cleanest day of the whole stretch. Then on Saturday, August 1st, we’ve got 7ft of S swell at 13 seconds, with 1482 energy. The wind is light cross-onshore, but the size is there. At 7ft, this is getting into expert territory – not for beginners.

After that, the swell fades fast. From Sunday, August 2nd, through to the end of the forecast on Friday, August 7th, it’s a long stretch of small, poor conditions. The swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, and energy levels fall below 300. The wind is mostly offshore, but the waves just aren’t there. There’s a solid 6-day gap with no recommended surf.

So, the pick of the pack is Friday, July 31st. That’s when you want to be in the water at North Torrey Pines. The 6ft S swell with offshore wind from the W is going to offer the best chance at a clean, punchy wave. The water is warm, the energy is pumping, and the wind is right. Just be ready for a crowd, because this spot can get busy, especially when it’s good. Saturday, August 1st, is also a contender if you’re an experienced surfer, but the wind is a little less ideal.

Rusty.

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