Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Honestly, it's a pretty tough stretch for us. The long-range models are showing a persistent run of small, onshore-affected surf that just isn't coming together. Most of the time the wind is either onshore or cross-onshore, which is killing any chance of clean waves. The primary spot is Ocean Beach Pier, a consistent beach and reef setup that's exposed to the west, but the swell direction we're getting is mostly from the southwest, which is a bit off its optimum.

Right now, and for the first several days, we're looking at a real flat spell. The swell energy is weak, usually in the 150 to 235 range (moderate wave energy), with heights barely scraping 2ft. The period is around 13 to 16 seconds, which is okay for a groundswell, but with the wind being onshore or cross-onshore, it's just making for poor, bumpy conditions. There's a slight uptick in energy around Thursday the 7th and Friday the 8th, with a longer period of 19 seconds and the combined energy jumping to 388 and 367 respectively, but the wind is still cross-onshore, so it's still a messy, choppy affair. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.

The surf quality remains poor or marginal right through the weekend and into the following week. By Saturday the 15th of August, the combined energy hits 523 (strong wave energy) and the swell height bumps up to 3ft, but it's still only a marginal forecast with a gentle onshore breeze. It's a bit of a tease. The following days see the energy staying moderate, but the wind pattern doesn't give us a break.

There are no standout sessions here, no days where everything lines up. The consistent onshore flow and small swell mean this is a period where you're better off checking the cams daily for a lucky window, but don't hold your breath. It's a long, blank run for the area.

Rusty.

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