Santa Monica Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for anyone wanting to get a proper wave. We’ve got a long stretch of small, weak surf, and honestly, you’d be better off finding something else to do than stare at the ocean waiting for a set.

The first real glimmer of anything half-decent doesn't show up until the morning of Saturday, August 15th. Before that, we're looking at a whole week of nothing. The swell is tiny, mostly around 1ft to 2ft, with periods all over the place. The energy is weak to moderate, with readings mostly in the 100s and low 200s. The wind is mostly light, but it's onshore or cross-onshore, which just messes up the already pitiful surf. It’s a real bummer.

That Saturday morning, Santa Monica Pier (Southern California) might just have a pulse. We’re looking at a slightly better 3ft of swell from the SSW, with a period of 16 seconds. The wave energy jumps to a moderate 405, which is the most we’ll see all period. The wind is light, but it’s still cross-onshore, so it won't be perfect. It’s a real long-period groundswell, and you know what that means for a beach break like this – it might be a bit too straight and closed out. But for a beginner-friendly spot, it's at least worth a look. The water is a super warm 73°, which is a massive 7° warmer than usual for this time of year. That’s odd, but it’s a nice bonus.

The next morning, Sunday, August 16th, is similar. Still small, but the swell holds at 3ft from the SSW. The energy drops a bit to 320, and the period is down to 15 seconds. Again, light cross-onshore wind. It’s still pretty average.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. The swell stays around 2ft to 2ft, and conditions stay poor. There’s a slight bump in energy on the morning of Friday, August 21st, with a reading of 258, but the swell is only 2ft. The following Saturday morning, August 22nd, has a similar energy reading of 341, but again, it's just not enough to get excited about.

So here's the deal. There are no proper standouts in this window. The only two mornings that are even worth a look are the 15th and the 16th, and even then, it’s a struggle. The swell is small, the winds aren't helping, and this is one of those stretches where it just doesn't tend to stay poor for long, but this one is testing our patience. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d keep the board in the car and the expectations low.

Rusty, out.

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