Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking at Ocean Beach Pier.

Right now, the water temperature is 70°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year. Feels nice, but the surf? Not so much.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first recommendation isn’t until Saturday afternoon, August 22nd. The swell is small, only 2ft from the SW, and while the wind is light and offshore from the WNW, the conditions are rated as poor. There’s some weak to moderate energy out there (272), but it’s not going to give you much to work with.

Sunday, August 23rd is more of the same—tiny swell and a cross-onshore breeze chopping things up. Monday, August 24th brings a clear sky and light wind, but the swell stays small and marginal. We’re scraping the bottom of the barrel here.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Tuesday afternoon, August 25th. The swell bumps up a touch to 3ft from the SSW with a period of 13 seconds, and the wave energy climbs into moderate territory (531). The wind is light and cross-onshore, so it’ll be a bit bumpy, but it’s a marginal step up.

Wednesday, August 26th sees the swell push up to 4ft from the south, with period around 12 seconds and energy hitting a solid 800. That’s moderate energy, but the wind is a moderate cross-shore breeze making things choppy. It’s still just marginal, and honestly, this kind of beach-and-reef setup with a stiff crosswind might be more fun for the kite crew than paddle surfers.

Through the rest of the week and into the first few days of September, we see a lot of the same story. Swell heights bounce between 2ft and 5ft, mostly from the SSW or SW. The periods are decent, often between 13 and 16 seconds, so there’s some longer-period groundswell in the mix. That’s good for shape, but at a beach break like this, those long-period swells can break a bit straight. The wind stays light for most of it, which is a positive.

The standout window, and the best we’ve got, looks like Tuesday, September 1st. The morning shows 3ft from the SSW with 16-second period and energy at 675, with a gentle cross-shore breeze—cleaner than what we’ve seen. By the afternoon, the swell builds to 5ft from the SSW, period 14 seconds, and energy ramps up to 869. The wind drops to a light cross-onshore breeze. That’s the pick of the whole outlook. Not huge, but the cleanest conditions and the most consistent energy we’re likely to see. If you’re an intermediate surfer, that afternoon session is your best bet.

Wednesday, September 2nd still has some energy around, with 4ft from the SSW and light wind, but it’s a step down.

Thursday, September 3rd through Saturday, September 5th sees a drop-off again, with smaller swells and more cross-onshore or onshore wind. The energy is still moderate, but the quality isn’t there.

Sunday, September 6th closes out the forecast with a small 3ft from the SW, light cross-onshore wind, and marginal conditions.

To be honest, this whole stretch is a pretty flat run for Ocean Beach Pier. Nothing big, nothing clean for long. It’s a consistent spot, so it won’t stay this way forever, but for the next couple of weeks, you’ll be scratching for a wave. Keep your eye on Tuesday, September 1st—that’s your best shot.

Rusty.

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