Torrey Pines State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s cookin’ at Torrey Pines State Beach over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the first few days are a bit of a struggle. We’ve got a weak, long-period SSW groundswell pushing through, but it’s all tangled up with cross-onshore winds. The water temp is pretty much where you’d expect it for this time of year, so nothing wild there. The wave energy is actually on the lower side, clocking in around 333 (moderate energy) on Wednesday the 26th, but the actual surf quality is poor. The swell is coming from the SSW, but the break is exposed to WNW, so it’s not lining up right. The swell is only 3 ft, with a long 16-second period, but that won’t save you from the onshore wind. It’s a beginner spot anyway, so if you’re just starting out, you might get a few small, crumbly ones, but don’t expect much.

The afternoon of Friday the 28th shows a glimmer of hope. The wind shifts to onshore from the west, but it’s a light breeze. The swell is still small at 3 ft, but the period jumps to 19 seconds, which is a very long groundswell. The wave energy bumps up to 533 (moderate). The surf is still marginal, but it’s the best we’ve seen in a few days. Still, for a beach break, that long period is going to make things a bit fat and straight.

The weekend of the 29th and 30th sees a slight bump in size, with the swell hitting 4 ft on Saturday afternoon, still from the SSW. The energy gets up to 870 (moderate), but the wind is a gentle breeze, mostly cross-onshore, keeping things choppy. It’s still marginal. The crowds are “sometimes” here, so you might have some company, but it won’t be a circus.

Now, we hit a bit of a lull from the 31st of August through the 1st of September. The swell drops way down to 1.0 ft to 1 ft, and the energy is barely a whisper at 65 (weak). The wind is still messy. This is a few days of flat, poor conditions.

But hold on to your leashes, because things get interesting starting on Wednesday the 2nd of September. The afternoon brings a new pulse of swell, 5 ft from the SSW. The period drops to a more manageable 12 seconds, and the energy jumps to 903 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-onshore from the WNW, which is better than it has been. This is the first real sign of life.

The standout, and I mean the only real standout in this whole forecast, is Thursday the 3rd of September. Morning session is looking the best on offer. The swell is 6 ft from the SSW, and the energy is pumping at 1053 (strong). The wind is a light onshore breeze from the west, which is actually a pretty good direction for this spot. The waves will be a bit bigger, so it’s getting into the “too big for beginners” territory, but for the average surfer, it’s a solid few feet of long-period groundswell. The period is 12 seconds, so it’s got some punch. The morning is the call, as the afternoon gets a bit of a cross-onshore kick again. This is your best window.

After that, the swell hangs around in the 3 ft to 4 ft range through the 4th and 5th, but the wind picks up. The WNW breeze gets stronger, turning into a moderate breeze on the 5th, making it choppy and poor. Not worth it.

The second week, from the 6th of September onwards, is a slow fade. The swell drops back below 3 ft, and the energy fades. The wind is light, but the surf is small and poor. There’s a slight blip on the 8th and 9th with some 3 ft swell and 17-18 second periods, giving moderate energy around 700-752, but it's still marginal. The long period on a beach break isn't ideal, and the wind is light onshore or cross-onshore. It’s not a total washout, but it’s not a reason to cancel your plans.

So, to sum it up: the first week is pretty grim until Thursday the 3rd of September. That’s your one true shot at something decent. After that, it’s a waiting game. For a spot that’s fairly consistent, this is a dry spell, but it won’t last forever. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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