Surf Forecasts:
Pismo Beach Pier surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, WNW swell with 531 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 16 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Pismo Beach Pier this week:
The surf forecast for Pismo Beach Pier over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pismo Beach Pier in the next 16 days are 2.1m 8s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 16th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pismo Beach Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here again. Straight up, Pismo Beach Pier isn’t offering much over the next 16 days. Most of the time the winds are cross-onshore or cross, and that spells chop. There’s no real clean, glassy window anywhere in the outlook.
The first part, from the 16th to the 18th, is messy: small 3ft to 6ft surf with short-period WNW swell, cross-onshore winds, and energy readings around 303 to 532. The wave comments are “poor” or “marginal” the whole time. Not worth much.
19th sees a light wind but the swell is only 3ft with a long 15-second period—small, clean-ish but tiny. Energy is 504, but there’s not enough size.
From the 20th to the 23rd, it’s 4ft to 5ft, short-period, cross-on, and choppy. The combined energies hover between 291 and 685, but it’s all surface mess. No thanks.
24th is small and long-period, still cross-on. 25th has a bit more size (5ft to 6ft) and the wind becomes cross-shore—better than cross-on, but still not clean. That’s one of the better days, but just okay.
The real standout is Thursday the 27th. Wind drops to a light 6 mph cross-on, and the surf picks up to 6ft from the WNW with the strongest energy of the entire forecast—772. That’s the closest thing to a proper session in the whole stretch. It won’t be perfect, but it’s the pick of the bunch.
After that, the 28th to 30th fades—swell drops back to 3ft, long periods return, but the wind stays cross-on or cross, and the energy drops to 242-627. The last day of the month is poor.
So there you go: if you can only pick one time, make it the morning of the 27th. Otherwise, you’re fighting the chop. Rusty signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu morning, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 15 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 421 | 344 | 305 | 350 | 255 | 251 | 251 | 220 | 302 | 392 | 269 | 248 | 263 | 186 | 257 | 232 | 157 | 144 | 352 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:47AM1.78m | 1:28PM1.93m | 1:44AM1.56m | 2:05PM1.92m | 2:56AM1.38m | 2:46PM1.89m | 4:40AM1.27m | 3:36PM1.85m | 7:02AM1.28m | 4:36PM1.83m | 8:28AM1.36m | 5:41PM1.85m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:59AM0.60m | 7:53PM0.74m | 7:29AM0.80m | 9:00PM0.73m | 8:00AM0.99m | 10:17PM0.72m | 8:32AM1.14m | 11:38PM0.67m | 9:21AM1.26m | 00:48AM0.59m | 10:59AM1.32m | 1:42AM0.50m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 18 | 26 | 24 | 19 | 25 | 25 | 20 |
Feels °C | 15 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 21 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 23 | 24 | 18 | 25 | 23 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | SW 15 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 421 | 344 | 305 | 350 | 255 | 251 | 158 | 206 | 132 | 392 | 269 | 248 | 263 | 186 | 157 | 232 | 157 | 144 | 352 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 10 | SW 13 | WNW 11 | SW 13 |
| kJ | 25 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 248 | 59 | 84 | 245 | 37 | 59 | 176 | 167 | 167 | 82 | 87 | 65 | 85 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | SW 10 | S 10 | W 12 | S 10 | S 9 | SW 9 | S 9 | W 13 | WNW 15 | SW 21 | W 22 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 12 | SW 14 | WNW 11 | SW 13 | WSW 17 |
| kJ | 22 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 14 | 21 | 17 | 9 | 51 | 74 | 104 | 164 | 47 | 85 | 30 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 24 | 28 | 23 | 31 | 51 | 251 | 220 | 302 | — | 181 | 158 | — | — | 257 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 9 | 109 | 89 | 9 | 109 | 136 | 0 | 109 | 89 | 0 | 109 | 89 | 0 | 79 | 89 | 0 | 109 | 89 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in San Luis Obispo | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Pismo Beach Pier Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Pismo Beach Pier provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Pismo Beach Pier can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Pismo Beach Pier surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Pismo Beach Pier) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Pismo Beach Pier may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Are you planning a vacation in San Luis Obispo? If you are looking for accommodation near Pismo Beach Pier, camping, hotels and condos and appartments in San Luis Obispo, consider staying in Arroyo Grande which is 5 km (3 miles) away. Other places in and around San Luis Obispo where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Port San Luis which is 11 km (7 miles) away, San Luis Obispo, Nipomo and Santa Maria.
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