Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. I’m just gonna call it like I see it for Oceanside Pier over the next couple of weeks. This forecast is a bummer, plain and simple. We’re looking at a long stretch of tiny, chopped-up waves. The water’s a warm 74°, which is much warmer than usual for the season, so at least you’ll be comfortable while you’re sitting out there waiting for nothing.

The pattern starts on Monday afternoon, September 14th. We’ve got a tiny SSW groundswell, maybe 2ft, with a super long 18-second period. The energy reading is 284 (moderate), but the wind is onshore and the report just says "poor." It’s flat and messy.

Tuesday the 15th and Wednesday the 16th bring a little bump, 1ft to 3ft, with periods dropping from 20 to 17 seconds. The wave energy gets to 416 units (moderate), but the wind keeps shifting onshore or cross-onshore. It’s light, so it’s not a total washing machine, but it’s enough to put a wrinkle on the surface.

Honestly, the first week is a wash. From Thursday the 17th to Sunday the 21st, the swell builds a little, topping out at 3ft to 3ft from the SW with 15-18 second periods. The energy finally climbs into the 500-600 range (moderate). For me, the only real “standout” is Sunday morning, September 20th. We’ve got swell at 3ft from the SW at 18 seconds, energy at 585 (moderate), and light onshore wind. It’s not good, it’s just the least-bad option. That’s for the hardcore logs or maybe a foil.

Then things get really quiet. From Monday the 22nd all the way to the end of the month, the surf just gives up. Swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, the period shortens from 16 seconds down to a weak 13-14 seconds, and the energy tanks back to 250-300 units. The wind is a near-constant cross-onshore or onshore story. It’s "poor" almost every day.

By the second week, from the 25th of September, there’s nothing to recommend. The short period means weak, gutless waves. This setup looks more interesting for a kite session than a paddle board. There’s a tiny glimmer on Tuesday morning, September 29th, with a 2ft groundswell (16 seconds from SW) and glassy conditions (wind light from the SW at 3 mph), giving us 307 units of energy. It’s the last little hiccup, but it’s still only marginal at best.

So, bottom line: We’ve got a 16-day forecast with one marginally surfable day on the 20th and then a whole lot of nothing. If you’re dying to get wet, hit the pier that Sunday morning, but don’t expect much. This is just a flat, boring patch for the area.

Rusty

Read more