Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Tuesday morning, and I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is looking pretty grim around here. We’ve got a real flat spell on the cards. The ocean’s just not doing its job. I’ve been staring at the charts, and honestly, for the first stretch, it’s all low-energy slop. The water’s warm though, 77°, which is weird and lovely, but it’s not making up for the lack of push.

We’re looking at a solid run of days where the swell isn't even breaking the 3ft mark. It’s mostly small, weak lines from the SW and SSW, and the energy is just pathetic – readings in the 160 to 205 range for the first few days, which tells you all you need to know. There’s no punch, no drive. The wind is mostly cross-onshore, just enough to put a bit of chop on it, ruining the tiny little clean-up sets that might slip through. This is paddle-out-and-bob-around territory, not surfing. If you’ve got a kite, though, this kind of weak, wind-affected junk is more up its alley.

The first hint of anything with a bit more life shows up on Friday the 7th. Still small, but the period jumps up to 19 seconds – that’s proper groundswell energy finally arriving. The combined energy jumps to 447, which is at least moderate, but the height is still only 2ft. It’s going to be pretty walled, but that long period is a sign of better things, if the angle lines up. We’re right on the edge of *something*.

The weekend and the start of the following week is more of the same – small, onshore, uninspiring. The energy climbs a bit on the 9th and 10th, 419 and 364, but with 15 second periods and a cross-onshore wind, it’ll just be messy. This is a real dry spell, folks. Tuesday the 11th and Wednesday the 12th are more of the same weak, inconsistent lines. You’ll see the swell direction bounce around from SSW to SW but it doesn't change the fact that it's all under 2ft.

Now, here’s where it gets slightly interesting. A week out, on Friday, August 14th, the energy really starts to build. We’re seeing the combined energy jump to 592 in the morning and 795 in the afternoon. That’s solid, moderate-to-strong energy. The swell from the SSW is still only 3ft, but that energy with a 19-second period is indicating something bigger might be lurking. The wind, though, is cross-on from the west, which is a bit of a downer. It'll make it a bit bumpy but the power will be there.

That continues into Saturday the 15th – the biggest swell of the whole window, pushing 4ft from the SSW. That’s the pick of the bunch, if you can call it that. The energy is over 700, and it’s got some serious length to it. It’s just a shame about that cross-onshore wind. It’s not huge, but it’s enough to keep it from being glassy. This is still a beginner friendly size, but the period and energy might make it a bit more challenging. But hey, it’s the most surfable we’ve seen, and it’s a week away, so keep your fingers crossed for the wind to ease.

After that, things just... die again. Sunday the 16th and beyond is back to sub-3ft slop, with the energy falling back down to the 300-400 range. The wind stays cross-on and it turns a bit more westerly. It’s like the ocean just gives up. So, the long and short of it is – these next two weeks are mostly a write-off for surfing. There’s a pulse of energy around the 14th and 15th, but it’s a long-range call and could easily fizzle out. For now, the best bet is to keep your board in the car, but don’t get your hopes up. Get a good book. The ocean’s having a nap.

Right now, for the time being, it’s all about patience. The water’s warm, the skies are clear, but the surf is missing. I’ll be down there anyway, holding my board, hoping for a change.

Rusty.

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