Seaside Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, let’s be real—the next week and a half is looking pretty bleak. We’ve got a whole lot of swell but no power, and a bunch of cross-onshore junk wind messing it all up. It’s one of those times when you’re better off checking the cams and doing something else. This is a spot that’s already inconsistent, so it’s not a huge surprise, but it’s still a bummer when the ocean looks like that.

From the 10th to the 15th, the swell is just tiny with all those poor surf conditions. Wave heights are down at 1 to 4ft, and the period is mostly short, which means weak and wobbly. The wind is not helping either, coming across the swell most of the time and chopping it up. You’d be fighting a losing battle if you even bothered.

But then things start to shift around the 16th. The wind finally swings to the west and lightens up, and we get a proper groundswell with period pushing 17 seconds. The wave height climbs back to 3 to 4ft, and the energy is getting stronger. This is when I’d start taking a serious look at Seaside Reef (San Diego County). It’s an expert-only reef, and with this long-period energy, it’s going to be making some proper waves. It’s still a finicky spot, but when the period is up and the wind is clean, it’s a thing of beauty.

The standout days are looking like the 20th and 21st. The 20th has that swell building with a clean 18-second period, and the winds are light. The energy readings are hitting their highest of the whole run, up in the 700s range. That’s some proper juice. The 21st is similar, with a bit more size at 4ft, and still those calm winds. These are your big wave days, but be warned, 4ft faces on a reef break are not for beginners. This is the advanced crew’s playground and an inconsistent one at that, so you have to be on your game.

The days after that, the 22nd through the 24th, the swell holds up but loses some of that long-period magic, dropping to 14-16 seconds. Still rideable, especially with the light winds in the morning. The 23rd afternoon gets a bit ugly with a moderate cross-onshore, so pick your sessions.

Then, to finish it up, the 25th brings in a monster period of 21 seconds. That’s very long-period groundswell, which can mean the waves just jack up and close out in sections. That’s a case where it might break a little too straight at a reef, so be wary. The morning has light winds, so it’s still worth a look if you’re chasing the extreme.

Like I said, it’s a waiting game, but when the swell and wind line up around the 20th and 21st, we’re in for a treat. Just remember, this break doesn’t fire often, so when it does, you’ve got to be ready to move.

That’s it from me. Go get some.

Rusty

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