Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let’s get into it.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start to the outlook period at Ocean Beach, but don't write it off just yet. The first week is a bit all over the place, but the second half has some proper grunt coming in.

The kick-off is Saturday the 11th with a 7ft ESE swell, combined swell energy is a moderate 862 and it’s clean with a cross-off breeze. It’s surfable, but nothing to ring home about. The water temperature is sitting at 55°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent wetsuit. Sunday the 12th drops off with 4ft and 4ft ESE swells, but Sunday afternoon goes glassy with the wind dropping to nothing. That’s a really nice window for a clean, small wave session.

Monday and Tuesday turn pretty ordinary. Monday morning has 3ft ESE swell but by the afternoon it gets messy with cross-on wind and the energy drops right off. Tuesday is a write-off with short period windswell and no quality. Wednesday and Thursday are small and weak, with energies well under 200, just barely surfable on little long-period groundswell pulses if you’re keen.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Friday the 17th is a standout. We get a 4ft to 5ft ESE swell with a long 15-second period, combined energy jumping to 815 and then 1016. The wind is offshore or glassy. This is a classic clean groundswell setup at Ocean Beach (USA). The long period will mean proper shape and power, with good gaps between sets. This is your best bet in the first week and a half.

Saturday the 18th morning still has 5ft ESE swell and 14-second period, 1042 energy and clean conditions. But the afternoon turns ugly with a cross-on wind and a lumpy 10ft SSW swell. That switch is messy and not recommended.

Sunday the 19th – we get a massive 18ft SSW swell with a very long 16-second period. The combined energy is enormous at 20439. This is expert-only territory. The swell is too big for this break; it’ll be a washing machine unless you’re a pro on a big-wave gun. The same day afternoon has 12ft S swell with 14-second period and 4582 energy, still way too much for most.

Monday the 20th morning brings it back to a more manageable 7ft S swell with a 12-second period and 1522 energy, and clean cross-off winds. That’s excellent for experienced surfers, but it’s still solid. After Monday it goes downhill with onshore winds and rising onshore easterly swell building through the week, becoming too big (over 10ft) and blown out from the 25th onwards. Later on the 26th, the swell is still huge at 12ft but with cross-shore wind, which is a step better but still only for the brave.

So, your best windows are Sunday afternoon the 12th for a glassy small wave, and Friday the 17th for the best combination of size, power, and perfect winds. The 20th is also good for experienced surfers. The rest is pretty patchy or just too big and messy.

Rusty out.

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