Laguna Beach - South Crescent Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ at South Crescent Bay.

To be straight with you, this forecast is a tough one. We’ve got a solid 16-day window, but honestly, for the first several days, it’s pretty flat and messy. There’s a lot of “poor surf conditions” in the data, and that’s exactly what it looks like. From Saturday the 12th right through to Tuesday the 15th, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell – around 1 ft to 2 ft – with cross and cross-onshore winds. It’s gonna be bumpy and gutless. The energy readings are in the low to mid 100s and 200s, which is weak to moderate at best, but the quality just isn’t there. You’d be fighting wind ripples and chop for nothing.

The first real flicker of something happens Wednesday the 16th morning. Swell bumps up to 3 ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds. That’s a proper long-period groundswell, and the energy jumps to 371 (moderate). The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but it’s the first time the score gets a 1 – “marginal” conditions. Still, I wouldn’t get too excited. It stays in that 2 ft to 3 ft range with mostly cross-onshore or onshore wind right through the end of September. The longer period swells (15 to 19 seconds) are there, which means better shape and more push, but the direction is consistently from the SW or SSW, which is a bit off for this spot.

Now, if I had to pick the best of a mediocre bunch, I’d point you towards Sunday the 20th and Monday the 21st. On Sunday morning, we’ve got 2 ft from the SW at 18 seconds, energy hitting 434, and the wind is light from the S. It’s cross-onshore, but light. By Sunday afternoon, the swell nudges up to 3 ft, still SW at 18 seconds, and with only a 3 mph wind from the SW, it’s about as glassy as we’re gonna get. The energy is peaking at 475. Monday morning is similar: 3 ft, 17-second period, and a light cross-shore wind. That long period will make the waves stand up better and the paddling out will be easier between sets, but at a beach and reef setup like this, a 17-second swell can sometimes straighten out a bit. Still, if there’s a window to get a few clean ones, it’s these two days. The water is sitting at a toasty 71°, which is a touch warmer than usual for the time of year – a nice bonus.

Beyond that, from Tuesday the 22nd onwards, it’s back to that same old story: small swell, wind picking up again, and poor conditions. A lot of cross-shore chop and dirty surf. There’s a decent run of moderate energy (in the 200s to 300s) but the quality just isn’t there.

So, bottom line: this is a lean period for South Crescent Bay. Don’t expect much. Keep an eye on that Sunday-Monday window in the third week if you’re desperate for a paddle, but temper your expectations. It’s not a week for heroes.

Rusty.

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