Oceanside Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty flat and frustrating for most of us. If you’re hanging for a wave, you’re going to have to be patient. The good news is that the ocean’s not completely dead, but it’s definitely not going to be handing out any favours for a while. The first real chance of anything resembling a surfable wave is nearly a week away, and even then, it’s not going to be epic.

The early part of the forecast, from Sunday the 2nd through to at least Saturday the 8th, is a write-off. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the energy is weak, with the combined energy readings mostly in the low 100s to low 200s. We’re seeing a lot of onshore and cross-onshore winds, which is just going to chop up an already gutless ocean. It's not even worth paddling out for; you’ll just be doing exercise.

There’s a slight pulse of longer-period energy that shows up on Friday the 7th, with a 19-second swell, and the energy reading jumps up to 447. That might sound promising, but the height is still only 2ft and the comment is still “poor surf conditions.” It’s like a whisper of a wave, not a shout. It’s too small to do anything with, especially with the wind coming at it.

The weekend of the 9th and 10th is still marginal. We see the swell nudge up to 3ft on Sunday the 9th, but it’s still small and the energy, while moderate, isn't enough to make it worthwhile. The wind is light, which would be good if there was any real size to clean up, but it’s just not there.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Friday the 14th. The swell finally pushes past the 4ft mark, hitting 4ft, and the energy readings are getting stronger, reaching 756 in the afternoon. The period is a solid 17 seconds, which is proper groundswell, and the direction is from the southwest, which is what this spot wants to see. The onshore wind in the afternoon is a bit of a damper, but the morning looks more promising with a light cross-on breeze.

This brings us to Saturday the 15th. The swell holds at 4ft, and the energy is still strong at 626. But that wind is cross-on all day, and it’s going to put a bit of a texture on the face. It’s still the most surfable it’s been all week, but it’s not going to be epic. It's going to be more about getting a few grovelly ones and enjoying being out there.

Looking further out, into the 16th and 17th, the swell backs off a touch to 3-3ft, and the energy drops with it. It looks like we’re back to small, average conditions.

So, the call is this: this is a bad run. The surf is just not there. The only real window that’s even worth thinking about is that Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th. If you’re desperate, those are your days, but manage your expectations. It’s looking like a case of small waves and a lot of effort. The water temp is up at 76°F with a much warmer than normal anomaly, so at least you won’t need a wetsuit. But as of right now, I’d be looking at other things to do.

Keep an eye on it, though. Forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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