Point Mugu Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty.

Let’s talk about Point Mugu. The next couple of weeks are a real mixed bag. The afternoons are looking clean for the most part, which is a win, but wave heights stay on the small side. The water’s sitting at 71°F, which is a whopping 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s very unusual, you’ll be in boardshorts for sure.

We kick off on Tuesday afternoon, the 25th of August, but it’s tiny. Only 2ft of swell from the southwest with a very long period of 16 seconds. The wind is cross-offshore though, so it’ll be clean, but the energy is weak (304). Not really worth paddling out for.

Wednesday the 26th is more of the same theme. The mornings have a touch more size, 4ft from the south, but the wind is a light cross-onshore, putting small ripples on it. The afternoon cleans up with a cross-shore wind but still just 4ft. Both sessions are marginal.

Thursday morning the 27th looks poor with onshore wind, but the afternoon is a real standout for the first week. We get a glassy surface, 3ft of south swell, and clean, rideable conditions. The combined energy is moderate (360). This is your best bet for a fun, easy paddle.

Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th settle into a pattern. Mornings are small and a bit bumpy, but afternoons turn clean with cross-offshore winds. Friday afternoon has 2ft from the south-southwest with a very long period of 19 seconds. Saturday afternoon has 3ft from the same direction, with 16-second period. The energy is moderate, 513 on Saturday. These are solid options for a log or a fun board.

The trend of small, clean afternoons continues right through to the morning of Monday the 7th of September. Swell heights bounce between 2ft and 4ft, mostly from the south-southwest. The combined energy stays in the moderate range. A few sessions tip over 500, like Saturday the 29th afternoon. A good run for consistency if you’ve got the right board.

Monday the 7th of September drops right off. The energy falls to just 178 in the morning. Not worth a look. Tuesday the 8th is even smaller, 1ft, with very poor conditions.

Then, things get interesting. On the morning of Wednesday the 9th of September, we see a significant pulse of new swell. The direction shifts to south-southeast, height is 4ft, but the combined energy jumps to 1149 – that’s strong energy. The period is long at 15 seconds. The morning has a light cross-shore wind. The afternoon looks even better for size but bumpier: 5ft from the south at 16 seconds, with the energy surging to 1850. The wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the WNW at 12 mph, keeping it clean. This afternoon session on the 9th of September is the highlight of the entire 16-day window. It’s a powerful, long-period groundswell with clean wind. That one’s going to be a treat for the more experienced crew. Keep in mind, a long period like that will be best on the points.

Overall, the first week is about clean, small waves. The second week has a clear standout on the 9th of September afternoon. There is a bit of a gap of poor surf from the 7th to the 8th before that pulse arrives.

- Rusty

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