Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it’s a pretty quiet run ahead. We’re not getting any big, clean pulses of swell. The whole period is dominated by small, south-west groundswell, but the quality just isn’t there for any stoke-worthy sessions. The first real chance of something half decent doesn’t show up until Saturday the 29th of August, and even then, it’s marginal.

For the stretch from now, Tuesday the 18th of August, through to late August, we’re looking at tiny waves. Swell heights sit between 1 ft and 3 ft, with a lot of cross-onshore wind adding chop, especially in the afternoons. The combined wave energy is weak, with most readings in the 200s and low 300s range – nothing that’s going to get the heart pumping. The water temp at Ocean Beach Pier (Pacific Coast) is sitting at 71°, which is about 3° warmer than average for this time of year, so it’s a touch warmer than normal, but that’s about the only plus.

The surf breaks here are inconsistent and rarely break well with these small swells. The best bet, if you’re desperate for a paddle, would be Saturday the 29th of August. You’re seeing a slight bump to 3 ft to 3 ft of south-west swell, with a period around 15 to 16 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell with decent energy behind it (the combined energy jumps into the 500s). Winds are from the west and west-northwest, which is offshore for this spot. That would mean clean, glassy conditions for a few hours in the morning. It’s still small, beginner-friendly swell, but at least the wave shape will be better with that long-period energy and no chop.

However, even that isn’t a true standout. It’s just the best of a flat spell. There are no real highlights here. All other days through the end of August and into the start of September show poor surf conditions, with cross-on winds and weak to moderate energy. For expert surfers, there is absolutely nothing worth suiting up for. Beginners might find the 29th and 30th manageable, but the swell is inconsistent and the sand bars might not be cooperating. It’s the kind of setup where a kite surfer might have more fun on the stronger wind days than a paddle surfer.

To sum it up: there’s a 10-day gap of truly unappealing surf, and then a very marginal, promising-but-still-uncertain window at the very end of the month. Keep your expectations low and hope the forecasts change.

- Rusty

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