Laguna Beach - South Crescent Bay Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey, Rusty here with the long-range look for your local break. We're gonna be honest with you – the next week and a half is a test of patience. The surf is tiny, the energy is low, and we're mostly dealing with so-so conditions until a real pulse of swell shows up in the first week of September.

We kick off on Saturday the 22nd of August, and there's nothing to get excited about. The swell is a tiny 1ft to 2ft from the SSW, and even with clean wind, the combined wave energy is only 131 to 158 – that's weak sauce. Sunday and Monday are the same story. The height stays flat, and while the wind is light, there's just no wave to ride. It's a real slow start for South-Crescent Bay.

We finally see a little bump on Wednesday the 26th of August. There’s a 4ft swell from the S with a 15-second period. The combined energy hits 785 (moderate), which is an improvement, but we’ve got cross-shore winds that will put a little chop on the surface. It's still just a marginal call, so don't paddle out expecting anything special. This pattern holds through the weekend. Swell stays in the 3ft to 4ft range, and the winds, while not terrible, are mostly light and cross-onshore, which messes with the face of the wave.

The real standout window doesn't open until Saturday the 5th of September. Finally, we get some juice. On Saturday morning, we're looking at a 4ft swell from the SSE, but the period is only 16 seconds – solid. The afternoon is where it's at, with a 5ft swell from the S at a long 16 seconds. That's a proper groundswell, and the combined energy hits a strong 1664. That’s a huge jump in power. The water temp is about average for this time of year. The only catch is the cross-onshore wind, but it's only light at 5 km/h, so it won't ruin the day. This swell is pushing into intermediate territory at over 5ft, so beginners should take it easy. Sunday the 6th holds similar energy at 1477 with a 5ft swell from the SSE.

For the best chance at a clean wave, you want to look at the 2nd of September. On Wednesday the 2nd morning, the wind is glassy and offshore from the WSW, and we've got a 4ft swell. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it'll feel a bit fat and crumbly, but with that full offshore wind, it will be the cleanest surf of the whole period. After all that wait, a little bit of shape will be a welcome sight.

So to wrap it up: a long, slow, flat start. Don't bother paddling out until at least Wednesday the 26th, and even then only for a small, marginal session. The pick of the entire 16-day run is without a doubt Saturday the 5th of September. The S swell (5ft) has the size and the period (16 seconds) to bring real power to South-Crescent Bay. It's got some grunt, and with that light wind, it’s your best shot at something memorable, even if it's a little cross-onshore. Stay patient.

- Rusty

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