Point Loma Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a slow start, no doubt. Thursday and Friday, the 16th and 17th, are pretty much a bust – cross-onshore winds and tiny, messy swell. Saturday the 18th is barely any better, just some marginal cross-shore chop. You’ll be waiting until Sunday afternoon to see anything worth paddling for.

The change comes Sunday afternoon, July 19th. The wind swings light and cross-offshore, cleaning the surface right up. The swell builds to 1.4m from the SSW with a 12-second period – that’s real groundswell. The energy is reading 911 (moderate), and it’s clean. The crowd factor is there, but it’s a solid session starting to show.

Monday the 20th is a step up. Morning has light cross-off winds and 1.1m of SW swell at 15 seconds, then by the afternoon, the wind turns offshore from the WNW at 15 km/h. That’s perfect offshore conditions with 1.2m of SSW swell. The energy is 819 (moderate). This is your first real standout window – quality, wind, and swell all coming together.

Now, the main event. From Thursday the 23rd onward, things really pump. Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, is a gem. Light offshore winds, 1.6m of SSW swell at 13 seconds, and a combined energy of 1008 (strong). The forecast calls it very good, and I’m calling it the best of the run. The water temp is sitting at 21°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year – a nice bonus.

Friday the 24th is a bit mixed with cross winds, but Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are absolute standouts. Saturday morning, July 25th, has 1.6m of SSW swell, light cross-off winds, and a massive energy reading of 1390 (strong). Saturday afternoon is a beautiful long-period 0.7m SW swell at 21 seconds – that’s a very long period groundswell, perfect for a point like this. The energy is still strong at 1185. Sunday the 26th keeps it going with 1.0m of SW swell at 18 seconds and clean conditions.

The run continues through the end of the month. Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th both have 1.1m to 1.4m of SW swell, 17-19 second periods, and light cross-off winds. The energy is consistently in the 1000-1300 range (strong). This is a solid week of clean, lined-up surf.

A quick note on the break: Point Loma is a sheltered beach and reef setup, best for advanced surfers. The optimum swell direction is SW, and that’s exactly what we’re getting for most of the standout days. The crowd factor is “sometimes,” so you’ll have company, but it’s manageable.

The last few days of the month, July 29th to 31st, start to mellow out. The swell drops to 1.0m-1.3m, and the winds stay lighter, but the energy falls back to the 600-800 range (moderate). It’s still good, clean surf, just not the power of the previous week.

To sum it up: the wait is worth it. Sunday the 19th afternoon through Tuesday the 28th is the sweet spot. If I’m picking one true standout, it’s Thursday afternoon, July 23rd, with those clean, 1.6m groundswells and strong energy. Grab your board and get out there.

Rusty.

Read more