Surf Forecasts:
Rat Beach surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 17 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 6s period, W swell with 137 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Rat Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Rat Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rat Beach in the next 16 days are 1.3m 6s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.8m 16s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 17th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 6s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rat Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, it’s Rusty.
Honestly, the 16-day window is looking flat and pretty grim for Rat Beach. There’s no real swell on the horizon—just a bunch of weak, short-period leftovers that won’t give you anything to get excited about. The water’s already running much warmer than usual for this time of year, sitting at 71° on Saturday afternoon, which is a bit of a head-scratcher but not something that’ll save the surf.
Saturday the 15th kicks off with a sloppy 2ft of west windswell at 3 seconds, blown out by a cross-on breeze at 12 mph. The energy is weak (7), and it’s just choppy junk. Sunday morning settles a touch with a 2ft west swell at 5 seconds, but the light cross-on wind keeps it messy, and the energy is still tiny (15). Sunday afternoon the wind kicks up again, so no luck there.
Monday the 17th sees the swell nudge up to 3ft from the west at 6 seconds, and the energy jumps to moderate (123), but it’s cross-shore and messy. You’re getting a bit of push, but the quality isn’t there. Tuesday morning offers the first real glimpse of something cleaner—3ft west swell at 8 seconds, with a light cross-off breeze making it tidy. The energy is still low (78), and it’s surfable but honestly just ordinary.
From there it’s a whole lot of nothing. The middle of the week drops back down to tiny 1ft to 2ft waves, with periods stuck in the 6 to 19 second range—that long-period groundswell on the 20th and 21st is technically there, but there’s no size behind it, so it’s just making the ocean slosh around. The energy stays weak to low-moderate (under 100 mostly), and the cross-on winds ruin most afternoons.
There’s a slight bump around the 23rd and 24th, with the energy getting to moderate (174 on the 23rd morning, 176 on the 24th morning), but the swell height is still only 1ft. Even with a clean offshore on the 24th morning, you’re looking at knee-high dribble. The 25th has a similar story—2ft at 16 seconds, clean on the morning but tiny.
The last few days into the 30th just fade away, with weak west windswell and mostly cross-on winds. The 28th morning goes glassy with 2ft at 6 seconds, but there’s no energy behind it (27), and it’s not going to be worth the paddle.
So, bottom line: there are no good surf options in this whole 16-day stretch. Rat Beach is inconsistent at the best of times, and this run is a true blank. It’s the kind of spell that’s more normal for the area when the swell windows shut down. But keep the chin up—surf forecasts can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for long.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | W 5 | W 5 | W 4 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
5 | 16 | 13 | 24 | 52 | 76 | 48 | 111 | 78 | 34 | 18 | 26 | 10 | 13 | 56 | 14 | 12 | 50 | 49 | 47 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:55PM1.84m | 12:36PM1.95m | 00:45AM1.59m | 1:12PM1.93m | 1:49AM1.36m | 1:53PM1.88m | 3:42AM1.21m | 2:45PM1.83m | 3:57PM1.81m | 8:34AM1.36m | 5:14PM1.84m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 6:01PM0.73m | 6:08AM0.57m | 6:58PM0.76m | 6:35AM0.78m | 8:04PM0.79m | 6:57AM0.97m | 9:30PM0.80m | 7:13AM1.13m | 11:10PM0.74m | 00:27AM0.64m | 10:14AM1.35m | 1:18AM0.53m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 |
326 | 318 | 310 | 217 | 214 | 47 | 186 | 111 | 78 | 34 | 142 | 209 | 217 | 123 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 15 | 68 | 16 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | W 5 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | WSW 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 |
9 | 16 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 186 | 32 | 136 | 146 | 107 | 18 | 26 | 10 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 12 | 69 | 49 | 68 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 11 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SW 13 | WNW 8 | SW 20 | W 8 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 18 | W 11 | SW 17 |
2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 44 | 14 | 16 | 5 | 13 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 9 | 47 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 3 | — | W 5 | W 4 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — |
5 | — | 13 | 24 | 52 | 76 | 48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 15 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 18 | 63 | 166 | 0 | 63 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 0 | 48 | 41 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Rat Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Rat Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Rat Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Rat Beach surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Rat Beach) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Rat Beach may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Rat Shit is 5 km (3 miles) from Redondo Beach. If you plan a vacation in Los Angeles County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Redondo Beach. Redondo Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











