Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the pattern is a bit of a slow-burner. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty average to poor conditions to start, with a real wait for the decent stuff. Don’t get too excited about the first week or so. There’s a big gap where the surf is just not worth paddling out for, so save your energy.

The first bit of action that’s even worth a mention is Friday the 17th, but it’s a hard pass. Tiny 2 ft swell from the SW with a cross-on breeze making it choppy. The water is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. Saturday the 18th sees a little more size, but the morning is still a write-off with cross-on wind. The afternoon gets a bit better with a light onshore breeze, but the swell is still only 3 ft.

Sunday the 19th is more of the same – small, onshore, and not doing much. Monday the 20th actually sees a jump in size to 6 ft, but it’s still onshore and the quality is poor. The combined energy is moderate (898), but with that wind, it’s not going to be pretty. Tuesday the 21st drops back to 4 ft, still cross-on and messy. Honestly, from the 17th through to the 23rd, the conditions are just not there. It’s a long, flat, and choppy run.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Thursday the 24th. The swell is small at 2 ft, but the period jumps to 24 seconds, which is a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (1008). It’s a cross-on breeze, but that long period might set up a few lines at Riviera. It’s marginal, but it’s a change.

Now, the standout window. Saturday the 25th looks like the best bet in the whole forecast. The morning session sees a 5 ft SSW swell, with a light onshore breeze that should keep it clean. The combined energy is strong at 1388. This is a real opportunity. The swell direction is right on the money – SW is the optimum here. The afternoon holds similar size, but a light cross-on wind will put a slight crinkle on the face. Still, the morning is the pick.

Sunday the 26th is a close second, with a 3 ft to 4 ft SSW swell. The morning is clean with a light onshore, and the period is a very long 19 seconds. The energy is still strong (1193). The long period will mean some long lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will have real shape and power. That's a good thing for a point break setup, but it can be a bit straight at the beach.

The following week, from Monday the 27th through to Thursday the 30th, looks consistent but marginal. Swell stays in the 3 ft to 4 ft range, mostly onshore or light cross-on winds. The energy is moderate to strong, but the quality is just not there. It's a long stretch of ‘maybe’ surf. The period starts to drop off after the 27th, so the magic from the weekend will be gone.

In the end, the one to circle on your calendar is Saturday the 25th. The 5 ft SSW swell, the light wind, the right direction – it’s the best we’ve got. Sunday the 26th is a solid second option if you prefer a bit more period and a clean morning. For the rest of it, you’re looking at a lot of choppy, onshore, or small days. The crowds at Riviera can be a factor sometimes, so get in early for the best of it.

Rusty.

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