Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple weeks for the local waters.

It’s a slow start, no two ways about it. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, weak surf with a lot of sideshore wind. If you’re hoping for a good wave, you’ll need to be patient. The action doesn’t really start to build until the tail end of the month.

Oceanside Pier is the only game in town, so that’s where we’re looking. The water temperature is 72°, which is about 4° warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a serious anomaly, so definitely a day for a shorty or just boardshorts.

On Tuesday the 18th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SSW, but a cross-onshore wind from the WSW at 6 mph is messing up the surface. The wave energy is 385, which is pretty weak. Wednesday the 19th is a better bet. The swell is 3ft from the SSW, with a light offshore wind from the SW at 6 mph. The energy climbs to 451, and the period is a solid 16 seconds – that’s real groundswell. It’s the cleanest morning of the early period, but it’s still small. Grab a log.

Then comes the real lull. From Thursday the 20th all the way through Friday the 28th, it’s a desert. Swell heights rarely hit 2ft, wave energy drops into the 200s and 300s, and the wind is mostly cross-onshore. A few mornings have offshore wind, but the swell is too weak to care. You’re looking at about nine days of really poor surf.

Things finally perk up on Saturday the 29th of August. A pulse of 3ft to 3ft SSW swell arrives with a 16-second period. The energy jumps to 519, and the wind is light and cross-onshore from the WSW at 6 mph. It’s not glassy, but it’s a clear step up in power. Sunday the 30th holds a similar 4ft swell, with the same cross-onshore wind and energy still high at 558. This is your best window. That long period groundswell will wrap in nicely and give the waves some real shape. It’s a long way off, so keep checking, but this is the one to aim for.

The start of September fades back into small, weak conditions. So, mark your calendar for the 19th for a clean little session, and lock in the 29th and 30th for the best chance of a proper wave.

Rusty, out.

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