Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here.

Right, let's have a look at what's on the cards for the next couple of weeks. Straight up, I'll be honest with you, the week ahead is a bit of a mixed bag. We've got some swell, but the quality's going to be a real rollercoaster. The standout period is definitely the second weekend and into the following week, when things really start to line up.

Alright, let's kick off on Monday the 13th. Ocean Beach (California) is the only spot in the game. Early doors Monday morning, it’s clean enough with a light offshore breeze and a 3 ft swell from the ESE. The energy is moderate (221), and the wave comment says "surfable but very ordinary." It’s a start, but it’s not exactly firing. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so nothing to write home about there. That afternoon, the wind swings cross-on and the swell drops, making it a write-off.

Tuesday the 14th is a bit of a mess. A moderate cross-shore breeze and a weak, short-period swell make for a poor session all day. Wednesday the 15th is much the same – small, weak, and not worth the paddle out.

Now, Thursday the 16th afternoon is where we see a flicker of life. The wind goes offshore, and we get a 3 ft swell from the ESE with a very long period of 17 seconds. The energy jumps up to a strong 443, and the wave comment says "expect good surf conditions." This long-period groundswell will be a bit tricky at a beach break like Ocean Beach, as it might break a bit too straight, but it'll be clean.

Friday the 17th morning is where it gets real. The swell pushes up to 5 ft from the ESE, still with that long 15-second period. The energy is very strong at 1172, and the comment says "expect very good surf conditions." With a light cross-off breeze, it’s going to be a ripper of a morning. This is a legit standout for the first week. The afternoon gets a bit messy with a cross-on wind, so get in early.

Saturday the 18th is a write-off. Strong winds build, making it a lumpy, choppy mess. It’s more of a kite-surfing day than a paddle-surfing day.

Now, Sunday the 19th is another absolute gem. The morning sees a 3 ft, 20-second period groundswell from the SSW. That’s a very long period, which means proper, powerful lines. The energy is a massive 1492, and the comment says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This one is for the crew who know what they’re doing. The afternoon goes glassy, with the same clean 3 ft swell. Magic.

Monday the 20th morning is also excellent. A 4 ft swell from the S, with a 15-second period and a light offshore wind. The energy is very strong (1269), and the comment says "expect very good surf conditions." This is another top-notch session.

The real cream of the crop, though, is Tuesday the 21st morning. The swell is 5 ft from the S, with a 16-second period. The wind is light offshore, and the energy is 1486. The wave comment says "excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers." This is the best of the whole forecast. If you can only surf one session, make it this one.

After that, the quality drops off a bit. Wednesday the 22nd morning is glassy with a 4 ft SSW swell, which is a good, clean option. Thursday the 23rd is a complete washout with strong onshore winds. Friday the 24th morning sees a return to good conditions with a 4 ft SSW swell, 15-second period, and a light cross-off breeze. Saturday the 25th morning is also good, with a 4 ft S swell and a light offshore. The energy is moderate (736), and the comment says "expect very good surf conditions."

The last few days of the forecast, from the 26th onwards, fade back into smaller, more ordinary waves. It’s a clean end to the run, but nothing to get the heart racing.

So, to wrap it up: the run from Sunday the 19th through Tuesday the 21st is the absolute gold. Those mornings are the ones to circle on the calendar. The rest of the time is a bit of a gamble, with some clean windows and some blown-out days.

Rusty.

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