Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Ocean Beach Pier over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are looking pretty marginal. Wednesday the 29th and Thursday the 30th of July have some waist-high swell rolling in, around 4ft to 4ft from the SW and SSW, with a solid 15 to 16 second period on that groundswell. That longer period means better shaped waves, but it’s a bit of a double-edged sword – at a beach-and-reef setup like this, that long-period energy can sometimes make things a bit too straight. The wind is light, mostly cross-on or onshore, so the surface won’t be glassy but it’s not blown out either. The combined energy is moderate, sitting around 900 to 750 (945-753). Still, the quality is just okay, not a standout.

Friday the 31st of July is pretty similar – swell drops a touch to 4ft to 5ft, period backing off to 13 seconds, but still that light onshore wind keeps it from being perfect. The energy is dropping into the moderate range (632-537). The weekend then takes a real dive. Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd of August, the swell fades out to knee-high, maybe 2ft to 3ft, and the wind shifts more cross-on, especially on Sunday with a gentle breeze making it a bit choppy. Not worth paddling out for.

From Monday the 3rd of August all the way through to the end of the forecast window on Thursday the 13th of August, it’s a long, flat spell. We’re looking at waves mostly under 3ft, with lots of readings in the 1ft to 2ft range. The period is all over the place – some days it’s a short 9 seconds, other days it’s a long 19 seconds, but the swell is simply too small to do anything with. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 100 to 300 (373-130). The wind is light, but it doesn’t matter when there’s no power. There’s a slight bump on the 9th of August with a 2ft SW swell at 15 seconds and a marginal tide window, but it’s still not enough to get excited about.

So, for the best on offer? Honestly, the only window that’s even worth a look is Wednesday the 29th through Friday the 31st of July. The swell is modest, but the consistent 4ft to 5ft groundswell from the SW and SSW, with that 15-16 second period, is the most energy we see. The light cross-on wind is manageable, and the water temp is about average for this time of year. If you’re an intermediate surfer and you’re desperate for a paddle, those are your days. But keep your expectations in check – the crowds are often here, so expect company.

The long gap from the 3rd of August onwards is a real bummer. It’s a dry spell, and with so few consistent options, it’s the kind of blank run that’s more normal for this area. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s looking like a long wait for the next real pulse.

Rusty.

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