Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what we’ve got on the cards for Ocean Beach over the next couple of weeks, and I gotta say, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. There are some serious pulses of energy coming through, but the size is going to be the big talking point.

The first thing you need to know is that Ocean Beach is firing on all cylinders for a couple of days, but it’s going to be way too big for most of us. We’re looking at a window from Sunday the 16th through Wednesday the 19th where the swell just keeps pumping. It kicks off on Sunday morning with a clean 5ft east swell, but the energy is already building. By Sunday afternoon, it’s jumping to a solid 12ft from the southwest, and the combined energy is into the moderate range at (1882). The wind is a strong cross-off, so it’ll be blowing off the land, but honestly, that size is pushing it for a beginner spot like this.

Monday the 17th is more of the same. The morning has a hefty 12ft southeast swell with a period of 10 seconds, and the energy is getting even stronger at (2654). The wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it’s going to be lumpy and tricky. The afternoon drops a little to 10ft, but the energy is still there. Tuesday the 18th starts with a manageable-looking 8ft, but it’s still too big for the average surfer, and the afternoon blows up to 13ft from the south with a strong (3186) energy reading. Wednesday the 19th is the peak of it all. The morning sees a massive 16ft south swell with a long 12-second period, and the energy is off the charts at (6614). This is big, powerful, and only for the most experienced chargers. The wind is moderate and cross-off, so it will be clean, but this is a seriously heavy day.

After that, things start to settle down. By Thursday the 20th, the swell drops to a much more user-friendly 7ft from the south, and the wind goes light and cross-off. The energy drops back to (1105), and the forecast is saying “very good surf conditions.” This is where the week starts to turn for the better. Friday the 21st has a smaller 5ft south swell with a light offshore in the morning, looking clean. The afternoon brings a 5ft south swell with a very long 16-second period, but the wind turns light and onshore, so it’s a bit of a wash.

The standout window, though, is Saturday the 22nd. We’ve got a clean 3ft south swell with a solid 12-second period, and the morning wind is a light cross-off. But the afternoon... the afternoon is glass. The wind is virtually nothing, the swell is still a clean 3ft, and it’s just going to be perfect, clean lines with no chop. This is the one to circle on the calendar. The energy is low, around (310), but the quality is going to be top-notch.

After that, it gets pretty quiet. Sunday the 23rd has small, weak surf, and the rest of the following week looks like a bit of a drought. There are a few small pulses around the 3ft to 4ft mark later in the week, particularly on Wednesday the 26th, where we see a glassy 5ft south swell in the afternoon, but the periods are short and the energy is weak. Nothing really gets going again until around Saturday the 29th, when we see a clean 5ft south swell with light offshore winds, but it’s still a far cry from the earlier power.

So, to be straight with you: the real surf is this week, but it’s way too big for the break. The best bet for a good, clean, fun session for the average surfer is Saturday the 22nd. Keep an eye on that glassy afternoon. It’s going to be worth it. The water is about 54°, which is 3° colder than normal for this time of year, so it’s a bit brisk—definitely grab the hood.

The waves will clean up by the end of August, but for now, be patient. This is a spot that doesn’t stay flat for long.

Rusty.

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