Surf Forecasts:
Rat Beach surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, W swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, W swell with 365 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 14 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 15s period with SW 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 Friday (Aug 14) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 15s 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 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) 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 0.9m 18s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Fri 14th Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Wed 19th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Rat Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty. Let's talk straight about Rat Beach.
Over the coming days, the swell window is barely ticking over. We've got a very long period groundswell showing up at times, reaching over 15 seconds, but it's tiny – mostly 1 to 2.5ft. That long period stuff at a reef can be okay, but when it's this small it barely breaks. Plus, a lot of the time the wind is cross or cross-on, messing up what little shape there is. The combined swell energy is mostly weak, with values between 26 and 138 (moderate at best), and almost every session is rated poor. You'll feel the wait between sets because of that long period, but the waves just aren't big enough to make it worth your while. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
Thursday morning, August 13th, we have a glimmer of hope. The wind is a light cross-off breeze from the SSW at 6 mph, making conditions clean. Swell is a tiny 1.5ft from the SW with a 16-second period. Combined energy is 130 (moderate). It's surfable, but very ordinary.
Thursday afternoon already deteriorates – cross wind and dropping to 1ft.
From Friday the 14th right through to the end of the month, it's a long stretch of poor surf. The wind is almost constantly an issue, mostly cross or cross-on, and often a moderate breeze. A few mornings on the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st show clean conditions with light cross-off or offshore winds, but even then the swell is only 1ft to 2.5ft. The combined energy at those times is mostly moderate (56 to 84), but the height just isn't there for a proper ride.
The only real standouts in this entire 16-day window are the mornings of August 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th, and the morning of August 28th. That last one on the 28th, with a 1.5ft SW swell, 16-second period, and a complete glass-out from the S at only 3 mph, shows the highest combined energy of the whole period at 211 (moderate-to-strong) for the morning. That is the best on offer. Clean, but still only knee-high at best.
Overall, this is a flat stretch. Rat Beach is inconsistent at the best of times, and this window is a tough one. You'd need a longboard and low expectations for any of those clean moments.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 20°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 4 | W 5 | W 3 | W 5 | W 6 | W 4 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 124 | 24 | 188 | 104 | 103 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 20 | 30 | 19 | 52 | 47 | 44 | 120 | 95 | 56 | 123 | 61 | 47 | 181 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | off | off | cross | off |
High Tide | 10:56AM1.85m | 10:24PM2.29m | 11:29AM1.91m | 11:09PM2.08m | 12:03PM1.95m | 11:55PM1.84m | 12:36PM1.95m | 00:45AM1.59m | 1:12PM1.93m | 1:49AM1.36m | 1:53PM1.88m | 3:42AM1.21m | 2:45PM1.83m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:20PM0.77m | 5:07AM0.17m | 5:09PM0.73m | 5:39AM0.36m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 7:42 | — | — | 7:40 | — | — | 7:38 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SW 14 | W 6 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 9 | W 9 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | W 7 |
| kJ | 124 | 164 | 188 | 104 | 211 | 534 | 330 | 326 | 318 | 306 | 217 | 214 | 47 | 140 | 120 | 95 | 56 | 123 | 61 | 164 | 181 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 20 | SSW 19 | SW 14 | W 4 | W 5 | S 11 | S 11 | W 5 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 14 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | W 10 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 21 | 21 | 75 | 137 | 103 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 14 | 9 | 2 | 186 | 32 | 136 | 146 | 107 | 142 | 209 | 16 | 125 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | S 10 | S 9 | W 11 | S 11 | SW 13 | W 11 | W 10 | S 11 | W 10 | W 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 6 | 24 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 44 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 42 | 67 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WSW 5 | — | — | SW 9 | — | — | W 3 | W 5 | W 6 | W 4 | W 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — |
| kJ | — | 3 | — | — | 31 | — | — | 5 | 20 | 30 | 19 | 52 | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | — | 47 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 166 | 30 | 0 | 118 | 9 | 166 | 55 | 30 | 149 | 149 | 1 | 118 | 118 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 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.
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