Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Gotta lay it out plain – the outlook for our local spot is a real grind. We're staring down a 16-day window, but it kicks off with a total bummer.

Right from Thursday, August 6th, the conditions are a no-go. The swell is a pathetic 2 feet from the SSW, but the cross-on breeze is the real deal-breaker. The water is sitting at a balmy 76°F, which is a whopping 9° warmer than usual – it's like a bathtub, but the surf is a mess. The combined energy is weak (203), and frankly, this setup looks more interesting for kiting than paddling.

The whole first week is a washout. We get a little bump on the 9th (Sunday) up to 3 feet, and the wind goes offshore in the morning, but the periods are dropping and the overall quality is still poor. The energy stays moderate, peaking around 411 on Sunday afternoon, but the wind keeps switching to cross-on, ruining any chance of a clean wave.

There's a tiny glimmer on Thursday, August 13th afternoon, with the swell still at 3 feet from the SW, but the wind is offshore and light. The period is a solid 16 seconds, giving it some groundswell punch. The energy jumps to 463 (moderate), but it's still just not enough to get the heart racing.

Then, looking at the second week, things get a bit more interesting, but still marginal. Friday, August 14th, sees the swell hold around 2-3 feet from the SSW, but the energy surges into the strong range (546 to 756). The wind is cross-on though, so it's going to be a messy, choppy affair. Great for watching the energy, lousy for riding it.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is Sunday, August 16th. The morning shows a 3-foot swell from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the wind is light offshore from the SW. The energy is a solid 534 (strong). It's called "marginal," but in a week of poor conditions, this is the one time the wind might actually line up. The crowds at Riviera are "sometimes" an issue, so on a rare clean-ish day, you might have some company. Just keep your expectations in check – this is not a grade-A day.

For the rest of the second week, it's back to the same old story: small swells, persistent cross-on or onshore winds, and poor surf quality. The energy stays moderate, and by the 21st of August we're back to 3 feet and weak energy (259). It's a long, flat, and disappointing run.

Rusty, signing off.

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