Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what Ocean Beach has in store for us. Gotta be straight with you, the next week and a half is a real mixed bag, so we gotta pick our moments.

The main driver for most of this period is a nice S/SSW groundswell, but the wind and conditions are gonna be the deciding factor. Water temp is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year (water temperature anomaly -3°). You’ll want a decent wetsuit.

We start off with a bit of a wait. Saturday the 12th is a write-off with a light onshore drizzle and a weak, long-period 2ft swell from the SSW that’s not doing anything for us. But Sunday morning on the 13th is where it gets interesting. We’ve got a clean 7ft swell from the S, period 14 seconds, with a light offshore wind out of the West. The wave energy is solid (1539). This is gonna be a proper standout session, but it's a 7ft wave, so this is for experienced surfers only. That offshore wind will groom it into some nice lines at the peak. Watch out for that afternoon southerly wind, though, it’s gonna destroy the surface.

If you missed the morning, Monday the 14th is your next best bet. The swell drops to a still-solid 6ft from the S (period 11 seconds) with glassy conditions first thing. The energy is moderate to strong (841). This is the pick for intermediate surfers if Sunday is too heavy. It’ll be clean, lined-up, and way more manageable.

After that, the swell backs right off. From Tuesday the 15th right through to Saturday the 19th, we’ve got a massive gap of small, weak surf with a few tiny pulses. The swell energy drops into the double digits or low triple digits, and the wave heights are under 3ft for most of it. Not worth paddling out. You might find a knee-high ripple on a glassy morning, but it’s more of a paddle practice than a surf.

Finally, a pulse of new swell shows up on Saturday morning, the 19th. A 4ft SSW groundswell with a nice 14-second period and a light offshore wind out of the NW. Energy is moderate (654). It’s a surfable option, but the crowds at Ocean Beach are likely.

Then the forecast gets wild. Sunday the 20th sees a massive jump to a 10ft S swell, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds, and it’s blowing 28 mph out of the SW. That’s a washing machine. The bite of that wind and the size make this a kite-surfing zone more than a paddle zone. That big clean-up set will be a challenge.

Monday the 21st is still lumpy from the leftover swell, but it’s still blown out. The next real glimmer of hope in the longer range is Tuesday the 22nd. A small 3ft S swell (12-second period) with glassy conditions on the morning. It’s clean and small, a nice size for a longboard or a fish.

The big one to watch for the experts is Wednesday the 23rd afternoon. The model is calling for a huge 12ft S swell, short 9-second period, with a cross-off wind out of the SSW. The wave energy is enormous (2256). This is a serious, dangerous swell for Ocean Beach. If it materializes, it's the biggest of the forecast, but the wind and the massive size mean it’s for experts only, and probably a tow-in zone.

After that, the swell fades again into the final weekend. The 27th morning is another standout for the experienced crew: a solid 10ft S swell, 10-second period, with light cross-off winds and energy over 2000. That’s a solid, powerful day for those who know the channel.

Rusty.

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