Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Let’s be honest from the start: this stretch of coast is looking pretty flat and tired for the next 16 days. There’s no real standout session, and a lot of the time the ocean is just going to be messy or weak. We’ve got a run of marginal conditions and poor surf quality that stretches from the first recommendation right through.

The first hint of anything rideable shows up on Friday, September 4th at Ocean Beach Pier. Friday morning sees a 3 ft swell from the SW with a long period of 17 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The water is a warm 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – about 5°F above average, so you’ll notice the difference. The wind is light offshore from the W at 6 mph, so conditions will be clean. The combined swell energy is moderate (624). But the wave comment flags it as marginal, and the score is low. It’s a small, slow day with long gaps between sets. That long period means the swell will wrap into the point, but it’s not going to give you much push.

Friday afternoon stays clean with offshore WNW wind at 9 mph, swell a touch bigger at 4 ft, still from the SW and 16 seconds. Energy bumps up to 830 – moderate. Still, the surf just doesn’t have the quality to get excited about.

Saturday, September 5th is similar. Saturday morning has 4 ft SW swell, 16 seconds, and light offshore WNW wind at 6 mph. Energy is 961 – moderate. Saturday afternoon shifts to a 4 ft swell from the S with a shorter period of 13 seconds, and light offshore wind from the W at 6 mph. Energy jumps to 1082 (moderate). The score is slightly better, but still a 3 out of 10. The wave comment says marginal.

Sunday, September 6th is where things start to fall apart. Sunday morning brings 6 ft from the SSW at 14 seconds, but the wind swings to a N cross-shore at 9 mph, putting a slight chop on the surface. Energy is strong at 1175. Sunday afternoon gets worse – 6 ft from the SSW, 13 seconds, with a NW cross-onshore wind at 12 mph making it choppy. Energy hits 1182. This is too big for beginners, and the wind is ruining it. It’s more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Monday, September 7th through Tuesday, September 8th stays similar: 6 ft to 5 ft swells from the SSW and SW, with cross-onshore NW winds at 9 mph and a fair bit of chop. Energy is strong (1241 down to 881). The wave comments are poor to marginal.

From Wednesday, September 9th onward, the swell drops off fast. Heights fall to 5 ft, then 4 ft, then under 3 ft through the rest of the week. The wind stays mostly cross-onshore or offshore, but there’s no energy behind it. By Sunday, September 13th we’re down to 2 ft with poor surf conditions. The period on Monday, September 14th afternoon drops to 8 seconds – that’s short-period windswell, and it’s weak.

The only flicker of something interesting is on Friday, September 18th – a 3 ft swell from the SW with a very long period of 20 seconds in the morning, and 19 seconds in the afternoon. The wind is offshore or light cross-onshore. Energy is moderate (569). It’s still small, but that long period could give you a few clean lines if the tide works out. But it’s a long way out, so treat that as a promising possibility, not a sure thing.

Bottom line: This is a quiet, drawn-out period with no real highlights. The best bet is Friday morning, September 4th or Saturday morning, September 5th – small, clean, offshore, but marginal. After that, it’s a long wait of poor or flat surf until maybe the 18th. Crowds at Ocean Beach Pier are often around, so don’t expect any solitude. The setup is beach and reef, exposed, and the swell direction from the SW is okay but not ideal for the optimum W direction.

Stay patient, mates. It’s not always this flat, but this run looks like a proper lull.

Rusty

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