Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here in imperial. Let’s break down Ocean Beach Pier for the next couple weeks. Right now, Saturday July 18, it’s a flat, onshore mess – only about 3 ft of weak, long-period SW groundswell, but the wind is slapping it sideways and the water is a balmy 72°F, which is a full 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s weird, but it doesn’t make the waves any better. The first few days are poor, with scores barely a whisper. Sunday and Monday (July 19–20) stay marginal – still onshore, swell around 3–3 ft, period dropping from 18s to 15s. The energy is moderate but the wind is on it, so expect bumpy, weak lines.

The whole first week is a write-off: Tuesday through Thursday (July 21–23) offer nothing but light onshore breezes and tiny, messy waves. The swell direction never swings to the west, which is what this spot really wants. Crowds are likely, but honestly, there won’t be much to fight over. Friday July 24 sees a spike in period – 24 seconds! – but the swell is only 2 ft, and the wind is still cross-onshore. The energy jumps, but it’s a classic case of long-period groundswell doing nothing at a beach-and-reef setup under dirty wind. Not worth the paddle.

Now, the second week shows a little pulse. From July 27 (Monday) onward, the swell picks up to 4–4 ft, period still long (17–19s), and the energy is solid. The wind finally turns lighter, with occasional cross-onshore or even onshore, but still not clean. The best chance might be the morning of July 27, with light WNW wind and a 4 ft SW swell at 18s – that’s the best-looking combo in the whole run, but it’s still only a “marginal” call. The water is still warm, but the break is exposed and the direction is off. By July 31 Friday, the swell bumps up to 5 ft in the morning, then 6 ft in the afternoon – that’s pushing into intermediate territory, but the period drops to 14s and the wind is straight onshore. Energy is strong, but the quality is poor. For the experts, maybe a few bigger walls, but the wind will kill it.

After that, it fades fast. August 1–2 sees the swell drop to 2–2 ft, energy weak, and the wind stays cross-onshore. The whole 16-day window is a struggle. There’s no true standout – just a few days where it’s barely worth getting wet. The consistent crowd and the wrong wind direction are the main villains. If you’re desperate, the morning of July 27 might give you a few cleanish runners, but don’t expect much. Ocean Beach Pier is a tough spot right now. Keep an eye on the charts – it tends not to stay this stubborn for long.

Rusty.

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