Surf Forecasts:
Rat Beach surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s period, W swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 18s period, SW swell with 155 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Rat Beach in the next 16 days are 0.5m 18s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 14s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rat Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Rat Beach.
First thing you need to know: the water is sitting at a warm 71°, which is a solid 5° warmer than usual for this time of year. That's a big deal, mate – it’s much warmer than normal, so you can get away with a thinner suit.
Honestly, the outlook for the next couple of weeks is a bit of a struggle. The swell is just tiny, mostly hanging around 1 to 3 feet, and it's coming from the west or southwest. The real killer is the period – for the first week, it's a short, weak windswell at 5 to 6 seconds. There's just no push in it. The combined energy is weak for most of it, only occasionally hitting moderate numbers like 103 on the 18th afternoon or 136 on the 23rd morning, but the wave quality is still described as poor. There's a big gap of days with no real recommendation, just a few mornings with "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" scoring a 1.
Your best bet across this whole 16-day stretch? You have to wait. The mornings of Thursday, August 22nd and Friday, August 23rd are the standouts. On Thursday the 22nd, early morning looks glassy with a light cross-off breeze from the SSE and a 1 ft swell from the southwest at a long 19 seconds. That long period (groundswell) will bring some shape, but on a reef setup like Rat Beach, it should be okay. The combined energy hits 136 – that's moderate energy. Then Friday morning the 23rd is similar, with a clean 1 ft swell from the SW at 18 seconds and 124 energy. These are the only times where the conditions line up to be clean and the swell has some decent period. After that, the energy drops again.
For the rest of the time, the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore from the west, making things choppy. The swell is too small and weak to offer anything fun. If you’re a beginner, the swell never gets above 5 ft, so the size isn't an issue, but the lack of quality and power is.
So to wrap it up: don't get your hopes up until the morning of the 22nd or 23rd. The rest is a write-off. The forecasts can always change, but right now, it's a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Mon afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 45 | 50 | 66 | 50 | 37 | 17 | 14 | 56 | 14 | 11 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 127 | 111 | 112 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:49AM1.36m | 1:53PM1.88m | 3:42AM1.21m | 2:45PM1.83m | 3:57PM1.81m | 8:34AM1.36m | 5:14PM1.84m | 8:37AM1.43m | 6:15PM1.92m | 8:52AM1.49m | 7:02PM2.01m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 8:04PM0.79m | 6:57AM0.97m | 9:30PM0.80m | 7:13AM1.13m | 11:10PM0.74m | 00:27AM0.64m | 10:14AM1.35m | 1:18AM0.53m | 12:01PM1.32m | 1:56AM0.42m | 12:56PM1.25m | 2:27AM0.34m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 19 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 5 |
| kJ | 186 | 45 | 50 | 37 | 50 | 37 | 217 | 125 | 118 | 118 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 42 | 42 | 120 | 58 | 57 | 19 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 8 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 5 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 14 |
| kJ | 32 | 180 | 146 | 70 | 142 | 209 | 5 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 29 | 6 | 127 | 111 | 103 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 5 | S 16 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 42 | 109 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 56 | 11 | 11 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 9 | 20 | 112 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — |
| kJ | 27 | — | — | 66 | — | — | 17 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 9 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 118 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 0 | 48 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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