Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the coming weeks for Oceanside Pier. It’s a bit of a mixed bag, to be honest, and we’ll need to be patient.

Right now, and through the first few days of September, the surf is pretty small and the wind is mostly cross-onshore, which is leaving things choppy and messy. We’re looking at waves around 2ft to 4ft, mostly from the SSW, with a solid 15-second period on the Sunday morning, but the wind just isn’t playing ball. The wave energy is moderate, sitting around 629 to 325, but it’s not enough to overcome the conditions. The water is a real standout though – it’s a whopping 77°, which is 9° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

From Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 3rd of September, it’s a real struggle. The swell drops off, periods shorten, and the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore, giving us poor surf conditions. We’re talking 2ft to 3ft waves with weak energy (162 to 420). Not worth paddling out for.

Things start to look a little more promising on the morning of Friday the 4th of September. We’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with a 17-second period – that’s a long-period groundswell – and a light onshore breeze from the WSW. The wave energy is moderate (697). The morning is the pick, as the afternoon stays similar but with a bit more wind. It’s marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen. Saturday the 5th is similar, with 3ft SSW swell, 16-second period, and light winds. The morning looks cleaner than the afternoon, which gets a bit of cross-onshore chop.

Now, the real standout comes on Sunday the 6th of September. The swell picks up to 6ft from the S, with a 14-second period, and the wave energy jumps to strong (1212). The morning has a moderate cross-shore wind from the NW, which is a tricky one, but it’s workable. The afternoon gets too choppy and blown out. This is the best window for a surf, but that long-period S swell will be pushing straight into the beach, making it a bit walled up. It’s better for a point or reef, but if you’re keen, the morning session is your go.

Monday the 7th of September morning looks decent too – 6ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and a light onshore breeze from the SSW. The wave energy is strong (1290). But the afternoon is a write-off with a near gale and rain.

Tuesday the 8th of September is a big one, but a bit of a warning. The morning swell is 8ft from the SSW with a 14-second period and strong energy (2378). The afternoon jumps to 12ft with a massive 4036 energy. That’s expert territory only – way too big for most. The wind is cross-onshore, making it messy on top of the size. This is more for the big-wave chargers, and even then, it might be better suited for a kiteboard.

After that, from Wednesday the 9th of September right through to the end of the forecast period, the surf drops back down to small, weak, and messy. We’re looking at 1ft to 5ft waves, mostly with poor conditions and cross-onshore wind. A long, flat spell.

So, to sum it up: the best bet is the morning of Sunday the 6th of September, with a solid 6ft S swell and strong energy, but keep an eye on that cross-shore wind. The mornings of the 4th, 5th, and 7th are also worth a look for some cleaner, smaller waves. For the rest, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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