Ocean Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Ocean Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got some solid action. The water temp is sitting at 55°F, which is about 2°F cooler than normal for this time of year – nothing crazy, just a little on the nippy side, so don’t forget your booties.

The first standout is Saturday morning, 18 July. We’ve got a clean 5ft swell rolling in from the ESE with a period of 14 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy. The combined swell energy is strong at 1343, and with a light offshore wind from the W at 3 mph, the waves will be groomed. This is excellent for experienced surfers, as the size is over 5ft, so it’s a bit much for beginners. The SE direction isn’t the optimum, but the quality of the surf and the clean conditions make this the pick of the early period.

Sunday morning, 19 July, is another good one. The swell bumps up to 6ft from the SSW, with a very long period of 18 seconds. That’s serious groundswell. The energy is very strong at 2353. Offshore winds from the W at 6 mph will keep it clean. Again, this is for experienced surfers only – the size and power are real. At a beach and reef setup like Ocean Beach, that long period can make the waves a bit straight, but the quality here is undeniable.

Monday morning, 20 July, still has some punch – 6ft from the S, period 15 seconds, energy at 1610. The wind is cross-offshore from the SSW at 6 mph, so it’s clean, but not as perfect as the weekend mornings.

Tuesday morning, 21 July, is a real gem. The swell is 7ft from the S, period 16 seconds, and the wind is dead calm – glassy conditions. Zero wind. The energy is very strong at 2034. For a surfer, this is as good as it gets for a clean, powerful session. The size is pushing into expert territory though.

After Tuesday, the surf drops off. Wednesday, 22 July, is smaller – 4ft in the morning, 3ft in the afternoon – and the wind goes light, but the energy is weak. From Thursday, 23 July, through to Sunday, 27 July, the surf is poor. Waves are tiny, energy is low (89 to 416), and winds are strong or onshore. There’s a five-day stretch here where you’d be better off staying home. The swell direction shifts to ENE and SE, but the size is well under 3ft most of the time.

Now, look ahead to the end of the month. Tuesday morning, 28 July, shows a bit of life – 5ft from the SE, period 12 seconds, with a light cross-offshore wind from the WNW at 6 mph. The energy is moderate at 762. It’s surfable, but nothing special.

The real long-range standout is Wednesday morning, 29 July. The swell jumps to 8ft from the SE with a period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is very strong at 2061. Winds are light offshore from the WNW at 6 mph, so it’s clean. This is a big, powerful swell – only for experts. It’s over 8ft, so the crowd will be thin, but the waves will be heavy. This one is promising, but it’s still over a week away, so keep an eye on it.

After that, the surf drops off again. Thursday, 30 July, is mediocre with moderate winds, and Friday, 31 July, has strong winds over 25 mph from the S. The first weekend of August is small and windy, with only 3ft to 4ft on offer.

Best bet: Saturday morning, 18 July, and Tuesday morning, 21 July. The long-range shoutout is Wednesday, 29 July, but it’s a ways off.

Stay stoked.

Rusty.

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