Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s coming up for Oceanside Pier.

We’ve got a decent pulse of south swell hitting right off the bat, and it’s all downhill from there for a long stretch. Sunday morning, September 6, is the standout. We’re looking at a solid 6 feet of swell from the south, with a 14-second period – that’s proper groundswell, good energy. The wind is coming from the NNW at 9 mph, so it’s cross-offshore, keeping things clean. The water is sitting at 73°F, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year, a solid 5° above average. The combined energy is strong at 1304, so there’s plenty of push. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers; the size is getting up there, so it’s not for beginners. The swell direction is from the south, while the optimum here is WSW, but it’s still working. Crowds are possible here, so keep your eyes peeled.

That Sunday afternoon sees the wind shift to a more direct offshore from the NNE at 16 mph, which is nice, but the swell drops a touch to 5 feet and the energy is still high at 1284. The tide might be a factor though, so it’s a bit more marginal.

After that, it’s a long, slow fade. Monday morning, September 7, the wind turns cross-on from the WNW, and the quality drops fast. The swell holds around 6 feet from the SSW, but the energy is still decent at 1109. By Monday afternoon, it’s cross-shore and choppy. For the rest of the week and into the next, we’re looking at a dry spell. From Tuesday, September 8, right through to the end of the forecast on September 21, it’s mostly poor to marginal surf. Swell sizes drop below 3 feet, periods get all over the place, and the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore. There’s a very long period (17-19 seconds) swell from the SW around the 10th and 14th of September, but with heights under 3 feet and onshore winds, it’s not going to produce anything rideable. The combined energy dips into the 200-500 range, which is weak. It’s a blank run that stretches for nearly two weeks.

So, the call is simple: get out there this Sunday morning, September 6, for the only real session on offer. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off for a paddle. If you’re into kite surfing, those cross-off and cross-shore winds on the bigger days might be of interest, but for a surfboard, it’s a long wait.

Rusty.

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