Pismo Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break it down for the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a tough stretch ahead. We’ve got a long, drawn-out run of marginal to poor conditions, with a couple of brief windows that might just be worth a paddle. The only real option on the table is Pismo Beach Pier.

The water is sitting at 59°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so don’t forget a decent wetsuit.

The week starts off slow. Thursday morning, July 30th, sees a 3ft SSW swell with a long 15-second period. The energy is moderate (592), but the wind is a light cross-on, keeping things a little bumpy. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great. That same pattern holds through Friday, with similar sizing and a bit less energy. The swell direction is SSW, which isn’t the optimum WNW for the spot, so the wave quality is just okay.

Things bump up a bit into the weekend. Saturday, August 1st, brings a 5ft WNW swell, but the period drops to a short 8 seconds, so the waves will be a bit fat and disorganized. The energy is moderate (433). By Saturday afternoon, it’s up to 6ft, but still junky. Sunday looks similar, with 6ft WNW swell at 9 seconds – not great shape, but there’s a bit of push. The wind stays light cross-on, so it’s going to be a bit of a battle with chop.

Now, Monday, August 3rd, is the one standout. The morning shows 5ft WNW swell, period stretching to 10 seconds, and the wind goes *on* from the SW. That’s a clean, offshore wind for Pismo. The energy is moderate (537). This is the best on offer in the whole forecast. The swell is a bit much for beginners at 5ft, but for the advanced crew, it’s a chance at some clean, lined-up walls. Expect crowds, as it’s a popular spot.

After that, it’s a downward slide. The swell fades from Tuesday through Wednesday, dropping from 4ft to 3ft, with the wind staying cross-on. By Thursday, August 6th, we’re down to 2ft of SW groundswell, and the conditions are labeled poor. That flat spell looks like it will run for a good week or more.

The second week is a write-off for quality surf. From August 7th through the 14th, we’re looking at tiny, long-period SW groundswells (2ft to 3ft) with light cross-on wind. The periods are long, between 13 and 19 seconds, which means the energy is there in the water, but the size is just too small to do much with at a beach break like this. It’ll be inconsistent and mostly closed out or too weak.

So, bottom line: if you’re keen, make the call for Monday morning, August 3rd at Pismo. That’s your best shot. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for the next pulse.

Rusty.

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