Playa Santa Catalina Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty classic for this stretch of coast. We’ve got a window of small, clean surf to start, building into a more solid SSW groundswell later on. It’s not going to be huge, but there are a few mornings that are going to be well worth the paddle out.

The water temp is running about average for late August, so you won’t need the thickest suit just yet, but it’s not warm either.

Playa Santa Catalina is the spot. This point break is a magnet for the SSW swell, and it’s very consistent, so it’s just about always doing something.

Thursday the 27th kicks off small and glassy. We’re looking at waves around 1ft with a very long 18-second period, and a combined energy of 128. It’s weak, but with no wind and a clean surface, it’s a beautiful, small-wave glass-off. Afternoons get dodgy with a south wind and a building storm risk, so mornings are the call.

Friday the 28th is a touch better. The swell pushes up to 1ft with moderate energy at 214, and a light offshore N wind keeps it clean in the morning. It’s still small, but a long 16-second period groundswell will give those point waves a bit more push.

Saturday the 29th is where it starts to get interesting. The swell bumps up to 3ft and the energy jumps to 518. With the N wind holding at 6 mph offshore, the conditions are clean and the wave quality is going to be proper. The direction is right in the sweet spot for the point. This is your pick of the first half of the forecast.

Sunday the 30th shows a bit more swell, holding at 3ft, and the morning is pure glass with a light W wind. Energy is still solid at 470. Get out before the sea breeze kicks in, because the afternoon turns to mush with a 9 mph cross-onshore.

Monday the 31st is a weird one. The morning brings 5ft of swell, but the period collapses to just 7 seconds. That’s short-period windslop, and even though the energy is there at 471, it’s going to be bumpy and weak. The afternoon drops off to 3ft. Not ideal, even though the morning is glassy.

Tuesday the 1st and Wednesday the 2nd settle back down. We’re looking at forerunners around 3ft, with that SSW direction and glassy mornings. Energy is moderate, around 352 and 324, and the long-period nature of the swell should keep the point grinding nicely.

There’s another push starting Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th. The swell on the 4th gets to 3ft and the energy really kicks up to 648. With a clean NE wind in the morning and a 17-second period, Friday the 4th is going to be a standout. That’s a proper groundswell with some authority behind it.

The weekend of the 5th and 6th sees the swell peak. Saturday the 5th has 4ft of swell on offer, with energy maxing out at 794. The wind is cross-shore though, which will put a little crumble on the face. Sunday the 6th is back to 3ft, but it’s dead calm in the morning, absolutely glassy. That’s another good-looking session.

The second week starts to fade a little in size. Monday the 7th is 3ft, and the winds are a bit messy. But Tuesday the 8th brings another very long period pulse, up to 19 seconds, even though it’s only 2ft.

The best is saved for the end, though. Wednesday the 9th lights up with 3ft of swell and an 18-second period, and both morning and afternoon have offshore to light off conditions. Energy is way up at 718 and 638. That’s clean, lined-up point surf.

Then Thursday the 10th and Friday the 11th bring the final push. The 10th has 4ft on the face with a 16-second period and the energy is the highest we’ve seen, hitting 983. Friday the 11th is a bit smaller at 3ft, but it’s dead calm and glassy.

Overall, the swell is really SSW directed which is optimal for this spot. It’s never going to be a giant, but the quality of the waves, especially on the long-period swells, and the clean offshore winds, make this a solid run. Just keep an eye on those afternoon sea breezes that seem to kick up most days.

Rusty.

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