Laguna Beach - South Crescent Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you—this 16-day window for Laguna Beach - South Crescent Bay is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of underwhelming surf, with the first real glimmer of hope not showing up for over a week. The first ten days are basically a write-off, with poor surf conditions and only tiny, weak swells. Things start to get a little interesting around the 23rd of July, but even then, it’s a mixed bag.

The water at South Crescent Bay is sitting at about 68°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year—nothing crazy, just a nice little bump.

From Monday the 13th right through to Wednesday the 22nd of July, it’s a slog. Swell heights barely tickle 3ft, with periods all over the place and combined energy mostly hanging out in the weak to moderate range. The winds are a constant problem—cross, cross-on, and onshore, keeping things choppy and messy. There’s nothing to get excited about here. You’re better off doing something else.

On Thursday the 23rd of July, we finally get a pulse. The morning session is the standout of the whole period. A clean 5ft swell from the S, with a solid 13-second period, and the wind goes glassy. That’s the magic word. The combined energy jumps to 1110, showing there’s some real push behind it. This is the one to circle on the calendar. It’s still over a week away, so keep an eye on the models, but this is the best bet for a clean, fun wave. The afternoon sees it jump to 6ft, which is a bit more power, but the wind shifts onshore, making it less appealing—stick to the morning glass.

After that, from Friday the 24th through to the end of the outlook on the 28th, we’re back to small, marginal conditions. Swells hang around the 2ft to 5ft range, mostly from the SSW, with periods that are all over the shop. The winds are generally light and cross-onshore, keeping the surface a bit bumpy. It’s not terrible, but it’s not worth driving for either. The 26th of July has a nice 19-second period groundswell, but with only 3ft of height, it’s more of a long-period bump than a proper wave. For a spot like South Crescent Bay, a beach and reef setup, those long-period S swells can actually line up nicely, but the lack of size is the killer grab.

So, bottom line: the wait is real. The only standout is the morning of Thursday the 23rd of July. Get on it if you can, because the rest of the run is a dud.

Rusty.

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