Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's happening at Ocean Beach Pier. The setup we've got is a bit of a mixed bag over the next two weeks, with some potential but also some headwinds.

Right from Thursday afternoon, August 27th, it's a slow start. We're seeing a small SW swell at 2ft with a 14-second period. That long period is promising for shape, but the cross-on wind is messing with it, and the combined energy is weak (335). Frankly, the reports call it poor or marginal, so don't expect much.

The water temp is 74°, which is 5° warmer than average for this time of year. That's very unusual, so you'll be shedding the wetsuit or at least going thin.

Moving through the end of August into the start of September, we get an uptick in swell. Saturday morning, August 29th, the swell jumps to 4ft from the SW with that nice 16-second period and combined energy is moderate (666). The wind is light and onshore from the WSW. It's still rated marginal, but that's probably the best bet in the first week. The same goes for Sunday, August 30th, with 3ft SW swell, 15-second period, and moderate energy.

The real kicker is the wind. For most of this outlook, it's either cross-on or onshore. A lot of mornings in the first week have some onshore flow, but it's light. The afternoon sea breezes get a bit stronger, chopping things up.

Into the second week, things get even more difficult. From September 4th onwards, the swells drop back to around 3-3ft, and the wind is almost constantly from the NW or WNW. It stays cross-on, and by September 10th, the afternoon breezes are a moderate 12 mph, making for a choppy mess. The combined energy is moderate, but the quality is all poor.

There is a real standout, but you have to be patient. It's not a huge wave, but the best chance for a clean-ish wave is Saturday morning, August 29th, at Ocean Beach Pier. You have a 4ft SW swell with a very long 16-second period. The wind is light from the WSW, which is onshore but very light. The combined energy is a solid 666 (moderate). It's not perfect, but it's the closest we get to glassy conditions in this window. Be aware that this spot can get crowded.

For the rest of the period, there are long gaps of poor to marginal conditions. The setup here is a beach and reef, and with the persistent cross-onshore breezes and small swell, it could look more interesting for the kite surfers on some afternoons than for us paddle surfers. Long-range, the little bumps at the end of the second week are too far out to get excited about.

Stay hopeful, but keep your expectations low for the next two weeks.

Rusty.

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