Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what the next couple of weeks are serving up at Oceanside Pier.

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a pretty slow start. The first few days are a write-off for any decent waves. Wednesday and Thursday are flat and messy, with tiny 2 ft to 3 ft swell and onshore or cross-onshore breezes. The water is sitting at a very unusual 78°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year. Not much to get excited about there.

We don’t see anything worthwhile until the end of the week. Friday morning shows a slight pulse of 4 ft swell out of the southwest with a long 17 second period, but it’s still just marginal – light onshore wind doesn’t help. The energy is moderate (862), but the quality isn’t there yet.

Now, things start to look a bit more interesting by Saturday the 5th. The swell builds to 5 ft from the south, and while the morning has rain showers and a cross-shore breeze, Saturday afternoon is where we get a real standout. The wind goes glassy with a slight northeasterly air, the swell pushes up to 6 ft from the south, and the period holds at a solid 14 seconds. The wave energy jumps up to strong (1542). This is the best on offer – clean conditions, decent size, and a proper groundswell. It’s a little too big for beginners, but for the experienced crowd, this is the session to aim for. Just keep in mind that this beach break might see a bit of a crowd, and a long-period south swell can sometimes make things a bit straight here.

Sunday the 6th holds similar size, around 7 ft to 7 ft, but the wind swings northwest and goes cross-shore, taking that glassy finish away. Still surfable, but not as good. The energy is strong (over 1600).

Monday the 7th morning is another serious contender. That swell peaks at 8 ft from the south-southwest with glassy conditions and a 14 second period. That’s expert territory, no doubt. The energy is very strong (2420). If you’ve got the skill, this is a raw, powerful morning. The afternoon backs off a touch and the wind comes up, washing it out a bit.

Tuesday the 8th sees the swell drop back to 7 ft, but the winds turn cross-onshore, and the quality fades. From mid-week onward, it’s a gradual decline. The swell drops to 4 ft by Wednesday the 9th, and the wind stays lumpy. By Friday the 11th we’re back to knee-high slop, and the last five days of the forecast are basically flat to 2 ft and poor. A long-period 23 second pulse on Thursday the 17th is there, but it’s only 1.0 ft – not enough to do anything with.

So, to sum it up: the first few days are a bust. The real standout is Saturday afternoon, September 5th, with glassy conditions and a strong 6 ft south swell. Monday morning, September 7th, is a heavy one for experts only. After that, it’s a slow slide back to nothing.

Rusty.

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