Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – this is a tough stretch. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a struggle, with the first week offering only small, marginal waves and the second week sliding into a real flat spell. There’s a gap of about four days of poor surf starting Sunday, August 2nd, where the ocean just goes quiet. It’s not gonna stay poor forever, but for now, the pickins are slim.

The one spot that’s hanging in there is Oceanside Pier. It’s very consistent, so you’ll always find something to ride, but the quality is a constant battle. The water is sitting at a very unusual 75° – that’s much warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a weird treat.

The best window we’ve got is the Monday morning, July 27th, through to Tuesday, July 28th. We’re seeing a south-southwest swell rolling in at 4 ft, with a solid period around 17-18 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, which means long, clean lines and good energy. The combined energy is moderate to strong (1137). The wind is light and offshore (SW at 6 mph), which should keep the surface glassy. The only thing to watch out for is that for a beach break like this, that long period can make the waves break a bit too straight.

The Monday afternoon, July 27th, is also a decent shout with the same 4 ft swell and light offshore wind, but the energy is a bit lower (954). Plan for a dawn patrol or a late session when the wind is lightest.

For the rest of the first week, from Thursday, July 23rd through Sunday, July 26th, the swell is smaller (2 ft to 4 ft) and the wind is mostly cross-onshore, which will make for a choppy, bumpy surface. The waves will be there, but they’ll be a handful.

Come Saturday, August 1st, the swell bumps up to 5 ft from the south, but the period drops to 12-13 seconds. That’s a shorter, less organized swell. The wind is light offshore in the morning, so it might be worth a look if you’re desperate, but the quality is still a big question mark. That’s the last gasp before the flat spell lands.

From Sunday, August 2nd, right through to the end of the forecast on Friday, August 7th, the ocean shuts down. We’re talking tiny waves (1 ft to 3 ft), short periods, and mostly onshore or cross-onshore winds. The combined energy is weak (less than 200), and the conditions are just poor. This is a perfect time to clean the wax off your board or go for a long paddle.

So, to sum it up: the standout is Monday morning, July 27th at Oceanside Pier. If you can get out then with that 4 ft, 18-second groundswell and light offshore wind, you’ll find the best waves of the whole 16-day run. Everything else is a grind or a flat-out blowout.

Stay patient, and keep an eye on the charts.

Rusty.

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