Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Ocean Beach Pier.

Right off the bat, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first week of this forecast is a tough one. From Monday the 31st of August right through to Thursday the 3rd of September, the surf is small and messy. Swell is coming in at 2ft to 3ft from the south, but the wind is all wrong – onshore or cross-onshore from the west and northwest. The combined wave energy is weak, hanging around 244 to 637. It’s just poor conditions, mate. Nothing worth paddling out for.

We finally see a little flicker of hope on Friday the 4th of September. The morning brings a 3ft south-southwest swell with a nice long period of 17 seconds, and the wind drops to a light breeze from the southwest. The combined energy jumps to 648, which is still moderate but a step up. The waves are going to be a bit tentative – marginal tide and surf conditions – but it’s the first real chance for a surf. Saturday the 5th of September looks similar, with a 3ft to 4ft south swell, periods around 14 to 16 seconds, and light wind again. The energy nudges up to 929. Still not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve seen.

Now, Sunday the 6th of September is where things get interesting. The swell jumps to 8ft from the south-southwest, with a period of 15 seconds, and the combined energy hits 2233. That’s strong wave energy. The wind is a moderate cross-shore from the north, which will put a bit of a chop on it. This is proper sized swell – over 8ft on Monday morning, so that’s expert-only territory. Monday the 7th of September sees an 8ft south-southwest swell with a 13-second period, and the wind swings to a strong cross-offshore breeze from the south-southeast, which actually cleans the wave faces up nicely. That’s a standout window for experienced surfers – big, clean, heavy waves. The energy is cranking at 2205.

After that, the swell drops back down. Tuesday the 8th of September sees 6ft, then it fades quickly to 2ft to 3ft for the rest of the second week. The wind stays cross-onshore or onshore, the energy drops to the 200s and 300s, and it’s back to poor conditions. The long-range stuff from the 10th to the 15th of September is just flat and windy – not worth a look.

For the standout, I’d point you to Monday the 7th of September. Ocean Beach Pier is exposed to the west, and that south-southwest swell with a strong cross-offshore breeze will be clean and powerful. It’s a beach and reef setup, so with an 8ft swell, it’s going to be heavy and only for the experts. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual there. Crowds are often a thing here, so expect plenty of company in the lineup. That’s your best shot.

For the rest of us, the first week is a write-off, but the forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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