Torrance Beach/Burn Out Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, it’s a bit of a slow start and a real mixed bag for the South Bay. We’ve got a solid week of flat, weak dribble ahead of us before things start to show any real life. The first few days through to the end of August are mostly a write-off, with tiny, choppy waves and onshore winds killing any real hope. The swell energy is low, mostly in the 100-200 range, so don’t get your hopes up.

We start to see a flicker of life on the morning of Wednesday, 26 August at Torrance Beach/Burn Out. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the SSE, which cleans things up nicely. We’re looking at a tiny 2 ft swell from the SSW with a moderate period of 16 seconds, but the energy is building (237). It’s surfable, but you’ll be working for scraps. For a beginner, that tiny size is actually perfect, but the crowds are often here, so expect some company.

The real standout window, and the best bet of the whole forecast, arrives on the morning of Thursday, 27 August. The swell jumps to a clean 3 ft from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds and combined energy hitting 550. That’s a solid, moderate pulse of energy. The wind is light and cross-offshore from the SSE again, so expect clean, racy lines. This is the pick of the fortnight. It’s still beginner-friendly at that size, but the quality will be there for a fun session.

Friday the 28th morning holds some clean 3 ft leftovers from the same swell (357 energy), but the following weekend (29-30 August) gets messy again with onshore winds and crumbly conditions. The energy drops and the wind turns poor.

Looking into the first week of September, there’s a glimmer on the morning of Wednesday, 2 September. The wind goes glassy, with a 1 ft SSW swell and 16-second period (160 energy). It’s tiny and weak, but if you’re desperate for a glassy, quiet paddle, that’s your window. The crowds are often here, so don’t expect solitude.

Then, on Friday morning, 4 September, we get another clean window. The wind is glassy again, with a 2 ft SSW swell, 17-second period, and energy of 241. It’s a small, clean groundswell – perfect for the log or a longboard. The long period (over 15 seconds) means the waves will have good shape and push, but at a beach break like this, it might wall up a bit. Still, for a small day, it’s a winner.

Overall, don’t waste your petrol on the first week. Mark your calendar for the morning of Thursday, 27 August for the best chance of a proper wave, and keep an eye on the clean glassy mornings of 2 and 4 September for a fun, small-wave session.

Rusty.

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