Oceanic Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next 16 days are a tough watch for anyone looking for a proper wave. We’ve got one break on the cards, and it’s not looking like it’s going to deliver much.

The outlook starts from Friday, the 21st of August, and honestly, it’s a flat spell. The swell is tiny, barely registering 1 ft most days, and the energy is weak. The combined energy of all swells directed here is a measly 18 (18), which is just a whisper of wave energy. The water temperature is sitting at 83°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The only spot in the mix is Oceanic Pier, a beach/pier setup that’s fairly exposed. It’s a consistent break, but it’s not doing anything for us. The swell is from the SE, but the optimum swell direction for this place is NE, so we’re getting the wrong angle. The swell heights are mostly 1 ft to 1 ft, which is barely a ripple. The period is short, around 8 to 9 seconds, meaning it’s windswell, not groundswell, so the waves are weak and lack shape.

There’s a small window of hope on the morning of Saturday, the 22nd of August, where the wind goes cross-offshore from the WSW, but the swell is only 0.7 ft with a long period of 13 seconds. That’s a groundswell, but it’s too small to do anything. The 13-second period would normally mean a smooth, lined-up wave, but at 0.7 ft, it’s just not there.

The best conditions come late on Thursday, the 27th of August, when we get a clean, offshore wind from the WNW, and the swell pushes up to 1 ft. Still tiny, but at least it’s clean. The morning of Friday, the 28th of August, is another clean offshore window with a 2 ft swell from the ESE and a period of 9 seconds. That’s the biggest swell of the whole run, but it’s still only 2 ft and the direction is wrong. The combined energy jumps to 61 (61), which is still weak.

After that, it’s back to the same story: small, weak swell with onshore or cross-onshore winds. The wind picks up on several afternoons, making it choppy. The period stays short, so the waves are just wind ripples. There’s a glimmer on the morning of Wednesday, the 2nd of September, with a clean 2 ft swell from the SE and a 10-second period, but again, it’s the wrong direction for the pier.

The last week of the run is more of the same: tiny swell, 1 ft to 2 ft, with occasional clean windows but no real energy. The combined energy tops out at 59 (59) on the 2nd of September, which is still weak.

Look, I’m not one to sugarcoat it. This is a long stretch of poor surf. The swell is too small, the direction is wrong, and the energy is weak. If you’re a beginner, the 1 ft to 2 ft days might be worth a splash, but don’t expect anything with a face. For anyone else, it’s a write-off. The best advice I can give you is to keep an eye on the forecasts, because this is a pretty consistent area, so it won’t stay this flat forever. But for now, I’d be hanging up the board and taking a walk.

Rusty.

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