Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks have in store for us at Ocean Beach Pier.

Right off the bat, the outlook is a bit of a slow burn. We’re looking at a long stretch of pretty marginal conditions. The surf is there, but it’s not going to have you rushing to grab your board. The first week is all about small, clean-ish waves with a persistent cross-onshore breeze that’ll keep things a little bumpy.

Friday 24th July kicks it off with a tiny 2ft swell from the southwest, but it’s got a long 24-second period. The water is a very unusual 74°, which is 7° warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the steamer at home. The combined energy is moderate at 939. It’s a cross-on wind, so it’s choppy, but that long period means there’ll be some shape in the water if you’re patient.

Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th July are much the same story. The swell hovers around 3ft to 3ft, with periods dropping from 21 seconds down to 18 seconds. The wind stays light and cross-onshore, so it’s not glassy, but it’s not blown out either. The energy is moderate, sitting in the 600 to 800 range. It’s rideable, but you’re working for it.

Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th July see a slight uptick. The swell pushes to 4ft and 4ft, and the wind swings more cross-shore, which cleans things up a bit. The energy jumps into the strong range, reading 1026 and 1083 respectively. This is probably the best of the first week. It’s still not a standout, but with a 4ft southwest swell and a light cross-shore breeze, the morning sessions on Tuesday look the most promising. The period is 17 seconds, a solid groundswell, but remember that at a beach and reef setup like this, that long period can make the waves a bit walled-up.

Wednesday 29th and Thursday 30th July slide back into the 3ft to 4ft range with cross-shore to cross-on winds. The energy drops back to moderate. It’s not bad, it’s just... there.

Then we hit a shift. Friday 31st July through Saturday 1st August, the swell actually builds to 6ft from the south-southwest, with a period of 14 to 13 seconds. The energy is strong at 1257 on the Friday morning. But here’s the kicker – the wind is onshore, straight from the west. That’s going to put a lot of bump on the face. The waves will be there, but the quality will be poor. It’s a bit of a tease, honestly.

After that, from Sunday 2nd August all the way through to Saturday 8th August, the bottom falls out. The swell drops to 1ft to 2ft, the energy is weak (under 200), and the conditions are labelled as “poor.” The wind is mostly cross-on or onshore. There’s nothing to get excited about here. That’s a solid week of flatness.

So, what’s the best on offer? There’s no true standout week, but if I had to pick the best window, it’s the Tuesday 28th July morning. The swell is 4ft from the southwest, the wind is cross-shore and light, and the energy is strong (1083). It’s an intermediate level, as the swell is under 5ft. Crowds are often a problem at the Pier, so be prepared for that. The rest of the time, you’re scratching for small, wind-affected waves. The long stretch of poor conditions starting 2nd August is a real bummer, but that’s how it goes sometimes.

Rusty.

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