Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty. Let me break down what’s happening at Ocean Beach Pier.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks are pretty average. There’s wave action, but it don’t get real exciting until the very end of July and the first day of August. That’s the window you want to keep an eye on.

Right now, through the weekend of the 19th and 20th, we’ve got a light offshore breeze and clean conditions, but the swell is tiny – only 3 ft to 3 ft from the SW. That long period groundswell (17 seconds on Sunday) has some real energy behind it, but the size ain’t there. It’s a knee-high kinda wave, best for a longboard or a foil.

Monday the 21st through Wednesday the 23rd is a bit of a loss. The wind turns cross-onshore, and the wave energy drops way down. The swell gets small and messy. A few days to skip.

Thursday the 24th sees a big spike in period, hitting 24 seconds on the morning, with the energy jumping up. That’s a super long period groundswell, but it’s only 2 ft. That long period at a beach-and-reef setup like Ocean Beach Pier can make the waves fold straight, but there’s real power in those small peaks. The wind is still a light cross-onshore, so it’s not glassy.

Friday the 25th through Monday the 28th keeps that same beat: small SW swell, long periods, and the energy holding steady. The wind is mostly a light cross-onshore. It’s consistent, but the height stays around 2 ft to 4 ft. Rideable, but nothing to get worked up about.

Now, here’s the best on offer. Tuesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th of July, the swell ticks up to 4 ft and 4 ft from the SSW. The energy gets into the moderate range, and the period is a solid 16-17 seconds, meaning shaped-up lines. The real gem is Thursday afternoon the 30th: the wind turns light and onshore, but the swell is 4 ft from the SSW, period 16 seconds. That’s the session to aim for. Keep in mind, this break is consistent and exposed, and crowds are often around, so expect company.

Then, the big one. Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August. The swell jumps to 8 ft from the SSW, with the energy cranking up to strong levels. The period is 15-16 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell. At 8 ft, this is expert territory. It’s too big for beginners, and it’ll be a challenge for most. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit lumpy, but the power is legit. The wave size drops to 7 ft on Saturday the 1st, still with strong energy and a light offshore wind from the W on the morning. That makes for cleaner, more manageable conditions. This is the other standout – Saturday morning the 1st of August. The swell is still big, but the wind is clean, and the period is a bit shorter at 13 seconds, which helps the waves stand up better at the beach. That’s a big, powerful, and clean session.

After that, the plug gets pulled. Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd of August, the swell crashes down to 4 ft and then 2 ft, the period drops, and the energy falls off a cliff. The wind picks up strong on Sunday afternoon, making a mess. It’s back to flat and poor.

So, to wrap it up: the best windows are Thursday afternoon, July 30th for a solid, clean 4 ft SSW swell, and Saturday morning, August 1st for a bigger, powerful 7 ft SSW swell with clean offshore wind. The rest is small and average.

Rusty out.

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