Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what Oceanside Pier has in store for the next couple weeks.

Honestly, the outlook's a bit of a downer to start. We're staring down a flat, choppy stretch for the better part of the first week. The swell's tiny and the wind is mostly coming across or onshore, which spoils the little bit of juice we've got.

The water's sitting at 74°, which is a whopping 5° warmer than usual for this time of year. That's a real oddball for September, but it's nice on the skin.

The energy in the water is mostly moderate, with combined swell energy values sitting around the 300s to 500s (899 on Monday afternoon, then it drops off). It never really gets any real grunt to it.

You're gonna need some patience. The first real sign of life doesn't show up until about Friday, September 20th, rolling into Monday, September 22nd. That's a solid gap of nearly two weeks of mostly junk.

For the best of what's on offer, target Sunday, September 20th. The morning's got some clouds with a light offshore breeze out of the SW at 6 mph. That's the cleanest wind we see in this whole forecast. The surf is a measly 3 ft from the SW with a very long period of 19 seconds. That long period should give it some shape, but at that size, it'll be pretty weak, with combined energy at 616. It's an exposed beach break, and with a period that long, the waves might break a bit too straight. Still, with the glassy conditions, it's the pick of the litter.

Monday, September 21st and Tuesday, September 22nd are worth a look too. Monday afternoon brings 3 ft from the SW with a 17-second period and a light cross-onshore wind at 6 mph. It's still marginal, but the combined swell energy hits 668, the highest we see in the last week. Tuesday afternoon shows similar 3 ft SW swell with a 16-second period, and energy of 560.

The problem is the wind never really goes fully glassy or offshore for those bigger days except that Sunday. Those light cross-onshore breezes will keep the surface a bit textured. Don't expect a smooth face. Crowds are listed as "sometimes", so you might see a few other folk, but it won't be a circus.

If you're a beginner, that 4 ft swell on Monday the 8th is about the size you'd want, but the wind was cross-on and choppy, so it's not good. The bigger days never even hit 5 ft, so it's not dangerous, just mushy.

The only standout, if you can call it that, is that Sunday, September 20th morning. Clean wind, a whisper of a wave. For everything else over the next two weeks, you're better off finding another hobby. Conditions are too poor for a good session for the first 12 days, but a few afternoons late in the run could give you a fun little ride if you're not too fussy.

Rusty.

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