Point Loma Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a good look at what’s heading our way for Point Loma.

The coming weeks are looking like a slow burn, with a solid run of clean, rideable waves that never really push into the big stuff, but stay consistent enough to keep you in the water. There’s a bit of a gap right now before the first good session, so don’t rush out.

We kick things off proper on Tuesday, August 11th. The afternoon will see a small, long-period groundswell from the SW at 2 ft with an 18-second period. That’s a very long period, which usually means better shaped waves with more energy and longer lulls between sets. You’ll have to be patient, but the wait will be worth it. The combined swell energy is moderate at 492, and with clean conditions under some clouds, it’s a good start. The water is much warmer than normal for this time of year, sitting at 75°F with a 6°F anomaly, which is very unusual—you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

Wednesday and Thursday (August 12th & 13th) stick with similar SW swell around 2 ft to 3 ft. The winds stay cross-offshore and light, keeping things clean, though the quality is a bit ordinary compared to that opening session. The energy drops a little, but it’s all surfable.

Friday, August 14th, through to Sunday, August 16th, this is where it gets interesting. Friday afternoon sees the wind turn offshore from the WNW at 12 mph, and the combined energy holds steady around 500–500. By Saturday morning, the swell bumps up to 3 ft SW, and by Saturday afternoon we’re looking at 4 ft SW (562 energy) with a gentle offshore breeze. That Saturday afternoon is your first real standout—clean lines, gentle offshore wind, and that longer-period SW swell working nicely on the reef. Sunday stays clean too, with offshore winds and 3 ft waves.

We hit a bit of a lull from Monday, August 17th, through to Thursday, August 20th. Swells drop back to 2 ft–3 ft, and while the winds are mostly offshore or cross-offshore, the energy is lower and the wave quality is ordinary. Not a write-off, but nothing to get excited about.

The next real standout doesn’t arrive until Tuesday, August 25th, in the morning. The swell jumps to 3 ft from the SW with a 17-second period, and combined energy hits 477. Moderate offshore winds keep it clean. This is a solid, if modest, pick for those who prefer smaller, cleaner surf.

Wednesday, August 26th, is a big one. Both morning and afternoon sessions see a new S swell at 4 ft, with combined energy skyrocketing to over 1000 (1081 morning, 1039 afternoon). That’s strong wave energy. Winds are offshore and very light, glassy even in the afternoon with a slight air movement. This is the true standout of the entire 16-day run—clean, powerful, and the biggest swell of the period. The S direction is a little off-optimum for Point Loma, which prefers SW, but with that energy and offshore wind, it’ll still produce.

Crowds are possible at Point Loma, as it’s sometimes busy. Keep that in mind for the standout days.

Overall, don’t sleep on Saturday the 15th and Wednesday the 26th of August. The rest is just good, clean fun. Keep the rubber light because the water is unusually warm.

- Rusty

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