Oceanside Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on the cards for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, the next week and a half is pretty flat and ugly. We’re looking at a real dry spell from now through to Wednesday the 23rd of July. The waves are small, the wind is mostly cross-on, and the water is a balmy 72°F – that’s about 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, which is a real treat for a summer session without a wetsuit, but it doesn’t help the surf.

Tuesday morning, the 14th, we’ve got a tiny 2ft SSW swell with a period of 14 seconds, but it’s coming in with a cross-on westerly breeze at 9 mph, making it choppy and messy. The combined energy is weak (269). It’s strictly a no-go.

The same story holds through to the end of next week. We see a few pulses of energy, like on Saturday the 18th with a 3ft SSW swell and a period of 18 seconds, giving us a moderate energy reading of 511, but the wind is onshore or cross-on, keeping it shut down. By Sunday the 19th, the swell bumps up to 3ft and the energy hits 939, but the wind is a messy 12 mph cross-on, so it’s blown out.

The real change comes on Thursday, the 24th of July. The swell starts to build. By Friday morning, the 24th, we’re looking at a 6ft S swell with a period of 14 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a strong 1629. The wind is onshore from the SSW at 9 mph, which is a bit of a bummer, but the wave comment says “marginal” rather than “poor,” so there’s hope. That period is solid, suggesting a proper groundswell. This is the best bet in the whole window.

Saturday the 25th of July keeps it going with a 5ft to 6ft SSW swell, period dropping to 13 seconds, but energy is still strong at 1793. The wind is lighter, from the SW at 6 mph, and onshore. Still a bit wonky, but the size is there, and it’s the biggest we’ve seen.

For the standout, I’d put my money on Saturday the 25th at Oceanside Pier. The swell is a solid 6ft from the SSW, with the combined energy at a strong 1366. The wind is offshore from the SW at 6 mph, which is light and gives you a chance for some clean faces. The swell direction matches the optimum (WSW) fairly well. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most promising window in a long, flat stretch. Keep in mind, this spot is very consistent, but it can get some crowds, so get there early.

From Sunday the 26th onwards, the swell backs off again, dropping back to 3ft and below, with messy winds returning. The window closes fast.

So, to sum it up: a long, boring wait, then a brief window of fun from the 24th to the 25th of July. That’s your best shot.

Rusty.

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