Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break this down in feet and miles per hour.

The overall pattern is a slow start with small, choppy surf, then a build into some bigger, cleaner energy later on. There’s a few days of nothing worth chasing at the beginning.

Only one break to talk about – Riviera. It’s a beginner-friendly, very consistent spot, but early on it’s not happening. Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th offer tiny 2 ft SW swell with messy cross-onshore winds of 9 to 12 mph. Combined energy is weak to moderate (224 to 300). Hard pass.

Saturday the 18th morning is still small (3 ft) and cross-onshore. Saturday afternoon the wind goes onshore from the SW, but the swell has a long 18-second period – a nice groundswell. Still, it’s marginal.

Sunday the 19th morning is the first good window. Swell jumps to 6 ft from the S, with a 14-second period. Combined energy is strong at 1300. Light onshore wind could make it glassy. For a beginner break, 6 ft is pushing it – not for learners. Crowds are sometimes a factor, so hit the early. That morning is the standout.

Monday the 20th through Wednesday the 22nd drops to 3 ft to 3 ft, with long periods (15–16 seconds) but persistent cross-onshore breezes. Energy moderate (495–734). Just average.

Thursday the 23rd sees 5 ft S swell, 13–14 seconds. Strong energy (959–1072). Thursday afternoon has lighter cross-onshore wind from the SSE at 6 mph – that could be a fun, clean session.

Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th are the biggest: 6 ft to 6 ft from S and SSW, periods 13–14 seconds. Very strong energy (1501–2044). This is expert territory for Riviera. Winds are light and mostly onshore, so it’s clean for the experienced crew. This is the standout for big-wave surfers.

Sunday the 26th drops to 3 ft to 4 ft SW swell, with a very long 19-second period in the morning. Energy still strong (1337). Light wind. Monday the 27th through Wednesday the 30th sits around 3 ft to 4 ft SSW swell (13–19 seconds), moderate to strong energy (677–1315), light cross-onshore winds. Rideable but not epic.

Thursday the 31st fades to 3 ft SSW, 14-second period, light wind.

Best bets: Sunday the 19th morning for a clean 6 ft S swell with light wind, and Friday the 24th to Saturday the 25th for experienced surfers wanting size (6–6 ft, clean). Long-period swell (15–19 seconds) gives better shaped waves and easier paddle-outs, but at a beach break like Riviera it can run a bit straight.

Water temp is about normal for this time of year.

That second weekend is the one to circle.

Rusty signing off.

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