Riviera Shorebreak Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's get into it.

The next couple of weeks are going to be a lesson in patience. We've got a run of small, choppy, cross-onshore conditions that aren't worth getting wet for, but there is a flicker of something better if you're willing to wait.

The first real surf to speak of doesn't show up until Wednesday morning, August 19th. Riviera Shorebreak is offering up a 3.0ft SW swell, but that's coming with a cross-onshore wind at 3 mph, and the call is "marginal" at best. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

For the next week and a half, it's a real grind. From Thursday the 20th right through to the morning of Friday the 28th, we're looking at swell staying small to tiny, between 1.6ft and 3.0ft. The wind is almost always cross-onshore or onshore, which is going to keep the surface messy. The wave energy sits in the moderate range most days, but the quality just isn't there. It’s the kind of stretch where you check the cam, see the ripples, and go back to bed.

Now, things start to look a bit more interesting on Friday afternoon, August 28th. The swell pushes up to 3.9ft from the SW, with a period of 17 seconds, and the combined energy jumps up nicely. The wind is still light cross-onshore, but it's light, so it's a step up. Saturday the 29th morning keeps that energy with a 4.3ft SW swell, and again, light cross-onshore wind. For me, Saturday morning, August 29th, is the standout of the whole forecast. That 4.3ft of long-period groundswell, combined with light enough wind to keep things reasonably clean, is the best combo we get. That said, this break “rarely breaks,” so don't get your hopes up too high. When it does, the SW direction is right in the pocket.

The run continues through Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st with 3.0ft to 3.6ft SW swells, but the wind picks up again in the afternoons.

Looking into the second week, on Wednesday, September 2nd, the energy is still solid, but the swell drops back to 2.6ft, and the wind is on it. The real eye-catcher is Thursday morning, September 3rd. We’ve got a 4.6ft SW swell with a 16-second period and combined energy cranking for the first time. It's still "marginal" and cross-onshore, but the size and power are there. Remember, long-period groundswell like this can be a bit straight at a beach break, but it's worth a look. This one is still a promise, not a guarantee, as it's a bit far out.

So, to sum it up: you're waiting until Saturday the 29th of August for the best session, with Thursday the 3rd of September as a promising, but less certain, backup. The rest is small and choppy.

Stay patient, keep the wax dry.

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