Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Ocean Beach.

Alright, we’ve got a bit of a slow start and then a whole lot of swell to talk about. The first decent surf kicks off Thursday afternoon, August 6th, with a 7ft SSE swell. The water’s sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – a full 3° below average, so you’ll want a steamer. It’s a solid beach and reef setup, but that swell’s running a 10-second period and the wind is a cross-off from the SSW. The combined energy is pumping at 2034 (moderate to strong), so it’s got some grunt. This one’s for experienced surfers only – it’s a bit much for beginners.

Friday morning, August 7th, is a real standout. The swell drops to 5ft from the south, but the period jumps to a very long 16 seconds – that’s proper groundswell. Wind is offshore from the WNW at just 3 mph, making for clean conditions. The energy is still strong at 1803. This is the best on offer early on. Remember, with that long period, it might break a bit straight at the beach, but for a point or reef setup, it’ll be cracking. Crowds are possible here, so get in early.

Friday afternoon turns a bit scrappy with a cross-on wind and a 7ft south swell, but the session’s still surfable.

Saturday morning, August 8th, is another good call: 6ft south swell at 12 seconds, offshore cross-off wind from the WNW, and energy at 1179. Clean and solid. Saturday afternoon gets a cross-on and drops in quality.

Sunday, August 9th, sees the swell drop to 4ft, and by Sunday afternoon it’s poor with a moderate cross-shore. Monday and Tuesday, August 10th and 11th, are small and weak – 3ft to 3ft – but Tuesday morning has glassy conditions with a 12-second SSE swell, making for a fun little session if you’ve got a log.

There’s a gap from Wednesday afternoon, August 12th, through to Sunday, August 16th, where the surf is mostly poor or very small. Nothing worth paddling out for.

Then, hold onto your board – Monday, August 17th, a massive southerly swell starts showing up. By Tuesday morning, August 18th, we’re looking at a 16ft south swell with a 12-second period, winds are cross-off from the south, and the energy is a massive 6807 (very strong). But here’s the thing: this is way too big for Ocean Beach. It’s only for absolute experts, and even then, the forecast says it’s too big for this break. This continues through Wednesday and Thursday, August 19th and 20th, with swells up to 18ft. The wind and tide are favorable, but the size is intimidating.

Finally, Friday morning, August 21st, things settle. A 6ft ESE swell at 11 seconds, glassy conditions with a light NW wind, and energy at 1433 – clean, solid, and excellent for experienced surfers. That’s the second true standout. Friday afternoon gets a cross-on, but the morning is the pick.

All up, the best windows are Friday morning August 7th and Friday morning August 21st. The rest is either small, windy, or way too big.

Stay safe out there – Rusty.

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