Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming down the line for us.

We’ve got a solid run of swell on the horizon, but it’s not all smooth sailing. The first real action hits us Sunday, July 19th, with a solid pulse of long-period SSW groundswell. The water is running a bit colder than normal for this time of year, sitting at 55°, so you might want a slightly thicker wetsuit.

Ocean Beach is the only spot in the game, and it’s a consistent, fairly exposed beach and reef setup. Optimum swell direction is from the SE, but the incoming swell is from the SSW, so the direction isn't a perfect match but the energy is there.

Sunday morning, July 19th, is the first standout. Clean conditions with a light offshore breeze from the WNW, and a solid 6 ft SSW swell with a very long period of 18 seconds. The combined energy is pumping (2353). The wave quality is excellent for experienced surfers. This is a proper groundswell, so those long lines will be hitting the reef sections best. Don’t get caught inside on the sets.

The real highlight, though, is Monday morning, July 20th. A slightly bigger 6 ft S swell, with a 15-second period, clean lines with a light cross-offshore breeze from the SW. The vibe is fantastic. The energy is solid (1589), and the conditions are set for a really good session.

Tuesday morning, July 21st, keeps the momentum going. Clean offshore wind from the W, with a 7 ft S swell at 16 seconds. This is getting up there, so it’s one for the experienced crew. The energy is strong (2034).

We have a bit of a lull in the middle of the week. Wednesday, July 22nd, has a pleasant, glassy start with a smaller 4 ft S swell, but the energy drops off (453). It’s a good morning for a longboard or a beginner session. Thursday and Friday, July 23rd-24th, are pretty flat with very weak energy and messy wind, so the board can stay in the car.

The weekend picks up a bit. Saturday morning, July 25th, is clean with a light offshore wind, but only a tiny 2 ft swell. Sunday, July 26th, gets a pulse back into the 5 ft range, but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h breeze, making it a bit of a messy, windy swell. This setup starts to look more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

The real monster shows up Thursday, July 30th. Massive 15 ft SSW swell, with a combined energy of 9336 in the morning and 11571 in the afternoon. That is a lot of water moving around. The wind is favorable, but this is way too big for Ocean Beach. It’s an expert-only situation, and even then, it’s going to be a beast. Not for the faint of heart.

Friday, July 31st, still has a very solid 10 ft S swell, clean and manageable for skilled surfers, with energy still high (2549). The first week of August sees the swell settle back down to a more manageable 3 ft to 5 ft range, with clean conditions on the mornings but the energy is weak.

The second week is a bit of a mixed bag. Monday, August 3rd, brings a fresh pulse of 7 ft S swell, but with a strong 30 km/h cross-offshore wind, it’s going to be a choppy, blown-out affair. The rest of the week looks small and ordinary.

So, the best bets are clear: Sunday morning, July 19th, and Monday morning, July 20th, are your standouts. Clean, strong, long-period groundswell. Get out there.

Rusty.

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