Surf Forecasts:
Pismo Beach Pier surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 8s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, WNW swell with 1,093 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 8s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Pismo Beach Pier in the next 16 days are 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Pismo Beach Pier over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Well, it’s a bit of a quiet start and a lean stretch overall for the Pismo Beach Pier area. The first decent look doesn’t come until the morning of Thursday the 13th, and even then it's on the small side. The early part of this run is mostly about small, short-period windswell with onshore or cross-onshore wind, making for messy conditions. The first few mornings might offer a glimmer with a light breeze and tiny 2ft swell from the SW, but the tide and marginal quality will keep things flat and uninspiring. The combined energy starts off weak, around 270 (weak), and even when it climbs through the weekend, the quality is consistently poor. The winds stay cross-onshore, so there’s no real window of clean surf. By Sunday the 16th, that SW swell is still a small 3ft at most, and the period is a short 15-16 seconds, not offering any push.
The best bet in the whole outlook lands on the morning of Tuesday the 18th. The swell picks up to 5ft from the WNW, the period drops to a short 8 seconds, but the wind is only a light breeze out of the WNW, and it's a cross-shore condition. The combined energy hits 541 (moderate), which is the first real push of energy. It’s not perfect, but it’s the most surfable we’ll see. This is the standout for the whole forecast window. That afternoon gets a bit bigger at 7ft from WNW, but the wind goes cross-onshore and it gets choppy – better left for the experienced crowd.
The following week is more of the same: small, messy, and inconsistent. The end of the run, around Friday the 28th, shows a pulse of energy that breaks the 900 mark (970 – strong) with a 6ft WNW swell and cross-shore wind, which could be another look for the experienced surfer on a shortboard if the conditions tidy up. But that’s a long way off, so treat it as promising but uncertain.
For the advanced surfer, the Tuesday the 18th morning window is your moment. The swell is a bit too big for beginners at 5ft for the first time in the outlook, and the short period (8 seconds) means it won't be a smooth groundswell, just a lumpy, powerful windswell. The WNW direction is a better match for the pier's exposure, but don’t expect perfection.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Thu afternoon, min 14°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 14°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 206 | 157 | 193 | 229 | 179 | 255 | 312 | 314 | 376 | 421 | 406 | 305 | 297 | 251 | 251 | 464 | 311 | 550 | 1093 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:17PM2.33m | 11:43AM1.81m | 11:06PM2.19m | 12:18PM1.87m | 11:55PM2.00m | 12:53PM1.91m | 00:47AM1.78m | 1:28PM1.93m | 1:44AM1.56m | 2:05PM1.92m | 2:56AM1.38m | 2:46PM1.89m | 4:40AM1.27m | ||||||
Low Tide | 5:16AM0.07m | 5:04PM0.84m | 5:52AM0.21m | 5:58PM0.78m | 6:26AM0.40m | 6:54PM0.75m | 6:59AM0.60m | 7:53PM0.74m | 7:29AM0.80m | 9:00PM0.73m | 8:00AM0.99m | 10:17PM0.72m | |||||||
 |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 18 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 27 | 26 | 17 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 19 | 18 | 14 | 20 | 20 | 15 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 24 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 8 |
| kJ | 88 | 75 | 69 | 56 | 58 | 255 | 312 | 314 | 376 | 421 | 406 | 305 | 297 | 251 | 251 | 296 | 171 | 133 | 612 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | WNW 7 | SW 13 | WNW 6 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | S 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 206 | 157 | 193 | 229 | 134 | 132 | 164 | 42 | 87 | 56 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 2 | 248 | 59 | 85 | 164 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 20 | SW 19 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 13 | WNW 13 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 9 | S 10 | W 14 | WNW 15 |
| kJ | 23 | 38 | 20 | 98 | 179 | 15 | 14 | 87 | 34 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | WNW 6 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 67 | 50 | 22 | 38 | — | 38 | 42 | 45 | 64 | 123 | 464 | 311 | 550 | 1093 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 51 | 235 | 0 | 79 | 109 | 0 | 340 | 109 | 0 | 109 | 109 | 0 | 81 | 89 | 0 | 155 | 81 | 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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