Pismo Beach Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let’s have a look at what’s cooking for Pismo Beach Pier over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a pretty flat and uninspiring run for most of the period. The early days are a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a small, short-period swell from the SSW, but it’s pinned with a cross-onshore wind which is just going to mess up any chance of a decent wave. The water temperature is sitting at 62°F, which is about average for this time of year, so nothing out of the ordinary there.

The combined energy of all swells directed here is mostly in the moderate range, but with the wind being what it is, it’s not translating into anything rideable. The first real chance of a surfable wave doesn’t even show up until the morning of Saturday the 12th of September. Even then, it’s marginal. The swell picks up to 5ft from the WNW, but the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s going to be a bit jumbled and lack power. It’s a cross-shore breeze, not clean, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. The afternoon of the 12th sees the swell jump to 7ft, but the wind is stronger and it’s still cross-shore, so it’s going to be pretty choppy. This is only for the advanced crew.

The real standout, if you can call it that, is the afternoon of Sunday the 13th of September. The swell pushes up to 8ft from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds, giving a solid push of moderate energy. But the wind is a moderate cross-shore, so it’s going to be a messy, powerful beast. This is strictly for experts only. The size alone will be a handful, and the wind won’t help. It’s not the clean, lined-up wave you’d hope for.

After that, the swell drops back off and the second week is a real struggle. The wave heights are down around 2ft to 3ft with long periods from the SW (17 to 19 seconds), but that long period groundswell is going to break too straight for the beach break at Pismo. It’s a poor outlook, with scores dropping off a cliff. The wind is still a factor, mostly cross-on or cross-shore, just not doing us any favours.

So, to sum it up: the best of a bad bunch is the Sunday the 13th of September for the big, raw, expert-only stuff. Otherwise, it’s a long wait for very little reward. The forecast can change, but as it stands, it’s a tough stint for the average surfer at Pismo Beach Pier.

Rusty.

Read more