Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on offer for our little corner of the coast. We’re looking at a solid stretch of small, long-period groundswell, which is classic for this time of year. The water temp is sitting right where you’d expect it to be for mid-August, so you can get in without a full suit for a dawn paddle.

The main event is Playa Santa Catalina (point break) . This spot is very consistent, exposed to the SSW swell, and with the optimum direction being SSW, we are in for a treat. For the next week or so, we’ve got clean, fun-sized waves on the way. The combined swell energy is moderate, hitting values around 359, which is plenty of push for a longboard or a fish.

Right out of the gate, Sunday morning (August 16th) is looking sweet. We’ve got a 3ft SSW swell rolling in with a very long 15-second period. That’s proper groundswell energy, and with a light WNW cross-offshore breeze, the faces will be clean and lined up. Expect good surf conditions. The afternoon gets a bit sloppy with the wind shifting cross-on, so get out early.

Monday morning (August 17th) sees a slight drop to 2ft from the SW, but the period holds at 14 seconds. The wind is a pure offshore from the NNE, making for a glassy morning session. This is a standout morning for a clean waist-high wave.

Tuesday morning (August 18th) is another good one. The swell bumps back to 3ft from the SSW with a 14-second period, and we’ve got a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE. Clean, peaky waves that will be offering some nice little runners down the point. Crowds can show up here sometimes, especially on these clean mornings, so get in the water early.

As we move through the week, the pattern holds. Thursday morning (August 20th) is a beauty: 2ft SSW swell, 13-second period, and dead flat glassy conditions. That’s as good as it gets for a low-key session. Friday (August 21st) is also a standout morning with 4ft from the SSW and a cross-offshore breeze, making for the best wave height of the week. The combined energy sits at 312, so there’s some proper grunt in the water for a small point break. The afternoon turns glassy, too, so Friday is easily the pick of the bunch for the first week.

Heading into the second week, we see the swell size drop off, but the quality doesn’t disappear. Sunday morning (August 23rd) is smaller at 2ft, but with an offshore breeze and a long 13-second period, it’s still surfable on a log.

The real wild card comes at the very end of the forecast. Thursday afternoon (August 27th) is a dead calm, glassy afternoon with a 1ft swell and a very long 18-second period. That long period will make the point break feel like a lazy river with chest-high sets every now and then. Then Saturday morning (August 29th) brings back the size to 3ft from the SSW with a 16-second period and glassy conditions. The energy jumps back into the moderate range at 363.

Overall, the best on offer is Friday morning (August 21st) and Thursday morning (August 20th) . Friday gets the nod for the biggest swell of the window at 4ft, good wind, and that long-period push. If you only have one paddle, make it Friday dawn patrol.

Stay stoked.

Rusty

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