Pismo Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up for Pismo Beach Pier over the next couple of weeks.

There isn’t a single session in this whole 16-day run that I’d call a standout. The surf is mostly marginal, with a lot of cross-shore or cross-onshore wind messing things up. The early part of the period is a write-off, and while there’s some energy later, it never really comes together with clean conditions.

Thursday 23rd July is a total no-go. The morning has a weak 3ft SSW swell (combined energy 457 – moderate), but it’s coming from the wrong direction with a 12 mph crosswind, creating a cross-chop. The afternoon gets bigger with a 7ft WNW swell, but the period is a short 7 seconds and the wind is still cross. Just poor surf conditions.

Friday 24th July through to Sunday 3rd August is a long stretch of marginal surf. The swell heights bob around 2ft to 3ft, mostly from the SW with periods between 14 and 24 seconds. The combined energy is moderate to strong (values between 540 and 1274), but the wind is nearly always cross or cross-onshore, which keeps the waves choppy and messy. The best you’ll get is a slight cross-chop, but it’s not worth getting excited about. The water temperature is 60°, which is about average for this time of year.

Monday 3rd August morning sees a 7ft WNW swell with a short 8-second period, and while the wind is light and onshore, the combined energy is strong (956). This is on the bigger side for the experienced crew, but that short period and onshore wind will make it a lumpy, difficult paddle. Not a classic.

From Tuesday 4th August onward, the swell drops off and the winds stay light but cross-onshore or onshore. The waves are small, from 2ft to 4ft, with weak combined energy (190 to 404). The conditions are poor, with light cross-onshore wind ripples or just choppy, flat-looking surf. This is a blank run for the area.

The best of a very average bunch is Friday 24th July morning. The swell is only 3ft from the SW with a very long 24-second period, giving a strong combined energy of 1002. The wind is a gentle 9 mph cross-shore, so there’s a slight cross-chop but it’s the cleanest you’ll see. That long period means the waves will be better-shaped and more powerful at the pier, but it’s small. It’s the one session worth a quick look if you’re desperate.

Otherwise, this is a quiet period for Pismo Beach. The setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing on most days, given the strong cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions.

Rusty.

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