Oceanside Harbor Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s cookin’ at Oceanside Harbor.

Truth is, the next 16 days are a pretty tough pill to swallow for anyone chasing quality waves. The first few days have some moderate swell, but the wind is working against us, and the conditions are messy. The standout period is really the first couple of days, but even then, it’s far from perfect.

The first bit of surf worth mentioning is on Tuesday, the 28th of July. We’ve got a solid 4 ft swell rolling in from the SSW, with a long period of 17 seconds, giving it a lot of energy (1064). That’s a strong, powerful groundswell. The water temp is about average for this time of year. The problem is the wind is onshore from the SSW, blowing at 9 mph, which is gonna put a chop on the surface. Because it’s a beach and jetty setup, that long period swell can be a bit straight and tricky, but there’s plenty of push. This is a spot for advanced surfers only, and with crowds often around, you’ll be sharing the lineup. The combined energy is strong, but the onshore wind keeps it from being a true standout.

Wednesday the 29th sees a drop in swell to 4 ft, still with a long period of 16 seconds (646). The wind stays onshore from the SSW again, so it’s not clean. The energy is moderate, but the quality is just marginal.

Thursday the 30th through the 1st of August, the swell hangs around 4 ft to 5 ft, but the wind shifts to a cross-on direction from the W and WSW. That’s a little better than dead onshore, but it’s still light cross-onshore, creating small wind ripples and a bit of chop. The period drops to 13 seconds, so the energy is still moderate (between 569 and 933), but it’s not the kind of clean, groomed face you want.

From Sunday the 2nd of August onward, it’s a long, painful stretch of poor surf. The swell drops to 1 ft to 3 ft, and the energy is weak (between 93 and 462). The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, and the conditions are described as “poor surf conditions” all the way through to the 12th of August. There’s a gap of about 11 days with no real surf on offer. A few days in the second week have a longer period (18-19 seconds), but the swell is just too small and the wind is not in our favor. It’s not looking good for a paddle session.

Honestly, the best bet in this whole window is Tuesday morning, the 28th of July. The swell is at its biggest and the energy is strong. But with the onshore wind, you’re going to have to work for it. It’s really not a standout for the books, but it’s the only window where the ocean has some life.

Rusty.

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