Oceanside Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it's Rusty here. Let's break down what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Oceanside Harbor. We've got a long stretch of small and messy conditions ahead, so prepare for a bit of a wait.

The first session worth paddling out for isn't until Saturday the 18th, over a week away. Before that, it's a write-off. For the first seven days, from Friday the 10th through to Friday the 17th, you're looking at poor surf conditions with a weak, inconsistent, and mostly cross-onshore wind. The swell is tiny, coming from the SSW or SW, with heights barely scraping 2 ft to 3 ft. The combined energy is weak, hanging around (200-475) most days, with the wind blowing onshore or cross-onshore, making it choppy. On the 11th, Saturday afternoon, there's a slight air with light cross-onshore wind and small ripples, but the surf is still marginal at best. Save your energy.

Finally, on Saturday the 18th, we get a glimmer of hope. The morning shows some clouds with a light onshore breeze, and the swell size bumps up to 3 ft from the SW with a long period of 18 seconds. Combined energy jumps to (546). It's rated marginal, but this is the first real pulse of energy. The afternoon has rain showers with a slight cross-onshore wind, still small wind ripples, and the energy is even higher at (569). This is the first standout window. The wave energy is moderate, and while the wind isn't perfect, it's light. It's not going to be great, but it's the best we've seen. Sunday the 19th holds similar potential with 3 ft to 3 ft SW swell and a 17-second period, with energy readings climbing to (734) and (822) on the afternoon. Winds are cross-onshore, so it'll be a bit bumpy, but there's enough juice in the water to make it worth a look.

The best bet from this whole 16-day window looks like it'll be on Sunday afternoon, the 19th, and Monday morning, the 20th. On Sunday afternoon, the swell is 3 ft at 17 seconds from the SW, with combined energy of (822) – that's a solid moderate kick. The wind is light and cross-onshore, but it's manageable. Monday morning the 20th has the same 3 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, but the wind turns light and onshore, which could clean things up a bit. Energy is (436). This is a long-period groundswell, so the waves will have shape and power, but watch out for it being a bit too straight at the beach break – it might work better further north in the harbor or on the jetty. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

After that, the forecast drops off again. Tuesday the 21st through to Saturday the 25th sees the swell drop back to 2 ft to 3 ft, with similar periods and mostly light cross-onshore winds. The energy levels are weak to moderate, ranging from (253) to (515). It's a summer lull, folks. If you're a beginner, watch out for those days when the swell ticks over 3 ft – it's not huge, but it can get a bit punchy for learning. If you're an expert, you'll be waiting for the wind to swing offshore, but that doesn't look likely in this window. The whole setup is a bit of a beach-and-jetty mix, so with the onshore winds, it might be more interesting for kite surfing than a proper paddle session.

Stay patient, the long period energy on the 18th and 19th is the real deal for this region, even if it's not perfect.

Rusty.

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