Torrey Pines State Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty quiet for the most part, but there’s a big pulse of energy waiting for us at the end of this forecast run. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, lackluster surf before things get properly interesting. So, don't get too excited for the immediate future, but do keep next weekend firmly in your sights.

Right now, there’s not much to work with. We’re looking at a run of days with minimal, weak surf on offer. This is the kind of stretch where you’d be better off tuning up your equipment or going for a paddle rather than getting worked up about the waves. It’s a bit of a famine out there, with only small, weak swells and a whole lot of disappointingly small surf. This blank run goes on for a solid stretch, so don’t hold your breath for a turn-around until we get closer to that final pulse.

Let me break it down for you. The first real chance you’ll want to even look at the ocean will be around the 28th of August. That’s when we see a significant jump in size and energy. Before that, we’ve got a week and a half of small waves that really aren’t up to much. It's a true flat spell, really. There might be the occasional knee-high ripple on a longboard if you’re really keen, but it's not going to be worth the paddle out for most of us.

Looking at the one spot we have data for, Torrey Pines State Beach (San Diego) is your only real bet. The first time we see a real pulse of swell is Friday the 28th. The swell jumps up to a proper 8ft with a period of 14 seconds from the SSW. This is the standout of the whole period. The energy is strong, and even though the winds are light and a bit cross-on, it should still be a lot cleaner than anything we’ve seen for ages. This is when the setup really looks like it could turn on. This is a big step up from the rest of the period. After this spike, the swell eases off by the 29th to a still-rideable 6ft, but the quality might not be as good.

Earlier in the period, around the 14th and 15th, we get a small SSW swell at 2ft to 4ft. The period is a long 16-18 seconds, which means it's a clean groundswell rather than local windswell. The problem is, the size just isn't there. A couple of days have light winds with an onshore component, which is a small positive, but the overall forecast is just too weak to get excited about. Most of these days are rated as poor to marginal conditions, so it will be a real struggle for anyone out there.

After that little blip, it’s mostly downhill. The middle of the period from around the 16th to the 27th looks flat and largely surf-less. The swell drops to 2ft to 3ft, with low energy. There are days with just a light breeze, but a lot of the time the wind is cross-onshore, kicking up a little chop on an already tiny wave. It’s a proper lull, and definitely not a stretch of days to get your hopes up for.

So, that’s the story. For now, keep your board in the car, but be ready for that last week of August. The 28th looks like the day to be out at Torrey Pines. Hang tight, it’s coming.

Rusty.

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