Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming our way. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, but there are a couple of sessions you’re gonna want to circle on the calendar.

The week starts off a bit rough. Tuesday, September 8th, kicks off with a solid pulse of swell at Ocean Beach, a beach and reef setup. We’re talking 8ft of SE swell, but the wind is a messy cross-off and the wave comment flags it as marginal. The combined energy is pumping at 1674, but it’s just not lining up right for a good paddle session. The water is sitting at 54°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. It cleans up a touch Wednesday morning, September 9th, with glassy conditions and a drop to 5ft from the ESE, but the energy drops way off to 323. It’s surfable, but hardly a standout.

We hit a bit of a lull through Thursday and Friday, with small, weak swell and onshore junk. Not worth getting wet for. There’s a little bump in energy Saturday morning, September 12th, with a long-period 3ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, but it’s small and the conditions are just “marginal.” The energy is only 313. You could probably find a wave if you’re desperate.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday, September 13th, is the first real standout. The whole day is mint. Morning brings a clean 7ft swell from the SSW with a very long 16-second period, and it’s blowing light offshore from the WNW. Combined energy is a massive 2488. This is groundswell, so it’s gonna have plenty of power and shape, and the offshore wind will keep it clean. This is for experienced surfers though – anything over 8ft is expert territory, and 7ft is still a serious size for Ocean Beach. The afternoon stays just as good, with 6ft and offshore winds. If you can handle it, this is your window.

We get another solid pulse on Friday, September 18th. Morning looks excellent again, with a clean 7ft S swell at 13 seconds and light offshore WNW winds. The combined energy is 1767. This is another day for the experienced crew. The following morning, Saturday, September 19th, is the absolute best on offer. The morning has a clean 7ft S swell with offshore wind, but the afternoon is a monster: 8ft from the S with a very long 16-second period, light offshore wind, and a combined energy reading of 2558. That’s a ton of power, and it’ll be clean. Again, this is strictly for experts.

After that, it drops back down. Sunday the 20th has some okay 5ft waves in the morning, but the afternoon gets blown out. The rest of the second week is a mix of small, weak swell or strong winds, with nothing else really jumping out as a must-surf.

So, to sum it up: the first week is mostly a write-off. The real action is the Sunday the 13th and Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th. Those are your standouts, but you need to be comfortable in solid, powerful surf.

Rusty.

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