Point Loma Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a good, long look at what’s coming up for Point Loma.

Overall, we’re looking at a pretty mellow run. The swell is small for most of the period, but what it lacks in size it tries to make up for in quality. The water’s sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can leave the thickest rubber at home.

The pattern starts off with a very long period groundswell from the southwest, but it’s tiny. Tuesday the 18th has 2ft of swell with a 16-second period, but the wind is a bit cross-off, making it feel very ordinary. That 16-second period is a long one, which means it’ll be a bit walled at the beach, but Point Loma’s reef setup should help it line up. The energy is weak, sitting at 345 (combined energy of all swells directed here). Wednesday the 19th is a carbon copy with 3ft, clean and clear, but still just small. It’s a classic “skunk if you miss the set” kind of day.

Thursday the 20th through Saturday the 23rd is a bit of a low point. The swell drops, the wind goes cross or light, and the waves are just poor to ordinary. The energy dips into the 200s (combined energy of all swells directed here). Sunday the 23rd has a glimmer of hope with a 2ft and a 19-second period, but it’s still nothing to write home about.

Now, here’s the standout. Monday the 24th is the first real highlight. The morning has 2ft of southwest swell with a 16-second period, and the wind locks in offshore from the WNW at 9 mph. That’s a clean, gentle offshore breeze. The combined energy pushes up to 400 (combined energy of all swells directed here), and the forecast calls for good surf conditions. The afternoon goes glassy. It’s not big, but it’s the cleanest, most rideable wave of the first week.

The period from the 25th to the 28th stays very consistent. You’ve got 2ft of southwest swell, with periods between 14 and 16 seconds, and the wind is offshore or clean cross-off more often than not. The energy bounces around the 300-400 range (combined energy of all swells directed here). It’s all very ordinary, but at least you won’t get skunked if you paddle out.

Now, the real payoff comes at the end of the month. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th are the best sessions of the whole 16-day window. The swell jumps to 3ft to 3ft from the southwest, with a 15 to 16-second period. The wind is offshore or clean cross-off, and the energy is strong, hitting 578 (combined energy of all swells directed here) on Saturday afternoon. The forecast says “expect good surf conditions” across the board. This is the one to circle on your calendar. It’s not huge, but it’s the biggest, cleanest, and most consistent swell we’re going to see. If you’re an advanced surfer, the 3ft with a long period and offshore wind is going to give you some nice, lined-up walls on the reef. Beginners will find it manageable too.

The first few days of September drop back down to the ordinary 2ft to 2ft range, with moderate offshore wind. It’s still surfable, but nothing special.

So, the bottom line is: don’t rush out for the first week unless you’re just stoked to be in the water. The clear winner is the weekend of the 29th and 30th of August. That’s the best combination of size, clean wind, and energy. The rest of the time, it’s small but consistent, so you’ll always find something to ride.

Rusty.

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