Ocean Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. We’ve got a 16-day look at Ocean Beach Pier, and I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first week is pretty much a write-off, and we’re scraping the barrel for anything rideable.

The Overall Pattern

Right from Wednesday, August 5th, through to the end of the first week, the surf is tiny and the wind is a problem. We’re looking at a long, flat spell where the conditions are just not cooperating. The swell energy is weak for most of this period, with values hanging around 132 to 300 (weak to moderate). The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, which is a killer for any kind of shape. This isn’t a time to paddle out; it’s a time to kick back.

Week by Week Breakdown

August 5th – August 11th: This is the dead zone. The swell is a paltry 1 ft to 2 ft, coming from the WSW or SW with a period that’s all over the place. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Wednesday the 5th has a 2 ft swell from the WSW with a 14-second period, but it’s blown out by a 10 km/h onshore wind. Thursday the 6th is a little better with a 2 ft swell from the SW and a 13-second period, but the wind is the same story. The weekend (August 9th-10th) sees the wind shift to a cross-onshore direction, making it even choppier. The waves are just a mess. The energy is moderate at best, hitting 387 on Friday the 7th, but it’s all for nothing with the poor conditions.

August 12th – August 16th: We start to see a glimmer of hope. The swell ticks up a bit. Wednesday the 12th afternoon has a 3 ft swell from the SW with a 16-second period, and the wind is finally onshore (W at 10 km/h), which is better than cross-onshore. The energy is moderate (387). Thursday the 13th is similar, with 2 ft SW swell. The real tease comes on Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th. The swell picks up to 3 ft on Friday afternoon and 4 ft on Saturday afternoon, both from the SW with a 16-second period. The energy is getting strong, hitting 631 on Friday afternoon and 609 on Saturday. But the wind is still onshore, so the surface is likely bumpy. The forecast calls these "marginal" conditions, which is about the best we get. This is the only time in the whole outlook that’s worth a second look, but don’t get your hopes up too high.

August 17th – August 20th: The last few days of the outlook are a return to the same old story. The swell drops back to 2 ft to 3 ft, the wind is onshore or cross-onshore, and the conditions are poor. Monday the 17th has a moderate breeze (20 km/h) from the WNW, making it choppy. The energy is dropping off. It’s a quiet end to a quiet period.

The Verdict

The absolute best on offer is the afternoon of Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th. The swell is the biggest we’ll see (3 ft to 4 ft from the SW), and the period is decent (16 seconds). The energy is strong (631 and 609). The wind is onshore, which is the least bad of the options, but it’s still not glassy. The waves might have a bit of push, but they’ll be a bit lumpy. Ocean Beach Pier is a beach-and-reef break, so with a long-period swell (16 seconds is solid), it might be a bit straighter, but it’s the only game in town. If you’re desperate, that’s your window. Otherwise, the forecast is a bust. The crowds are "often" here, so expect company no matter what.

This stretch is a real bummer. When it’s this flat and windy for this long, it’s normal for the area. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s not looking good.

Rusty.

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