Venice Pier Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Hey folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for Venice Pier. I’ve been staring at the numbers, and honestly, it’s a pretty lean stretch for the next couple of weeks. This is one of those periods where you’ll be checking the cam more than you’ll be waxing the board.

We’re kicking off Monday, July 6th, with a tiny 2ft swell rolling in from the SSW. The period’s a long 16 seconds, which is great for energy, but it’s coming in with a cross-onshore wind at 6 mph. That’s enough to mess up the surface, leaving small wind ripples. The combined swell energy is weak at 322, so it’s really just marginal at best and probably only worth it if you’re desperate for a splash.

Moving through that first week and into the second, it’s a grim pattern. Tuesday the 7th sees a slightly bigger 3ft SSW swell with a super long 18-second period, but the wind is straight onshore from the SW at 6 mph. The energy picks up a bit to moderate at 478, but with the wind blowing right into the face of the waves, it’s a bumpy mess. The rest of the week is more of the same: tiny swell heights hanging around 2ft to 3ft, onshore or cross-onshore winds, and the conditions are just not cooperating. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no weird anomalies to blame.

We hit a real dead zone from around July 13th through the 17th. The swell drops off a cliff, with wave heights barely reaching 1ft. The energy readings are weak, dropping as low as 116, which is barely a ripple. It’s a long, quiet spell. If you’re wanting to surf, you’re better off waxing your board and waiting.

There’s a flicker of hope right at the tail end. Monday, July 20th, we see a bit of a pulse: a 3ft swell from the S, with a 14-second period. The combined energy jumps to a moderate 520, which is actually the best energy we see in the whole period. The morning has a light cross-onshore wind from the SSE at 6 mph, so it’ll still have a texture on it, but it’s the closest we get to anything rideable. Tuesday the 21st keeps a similar 3ft S swell, but the wind is still cross-onshore, and the energy drops to 486. The reports still say poor, so don't get too excited.

So, what’s the standout? Honestly, the best of a bad bunch is Monday the 20th. That’s the only day with a swell over 3ft and the highest energy in the whole 16 days. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which isn't perfect, but it’s as clean as we’ll see. The swell direction from the S matches up with the optimum SW direction for Venice Pier reasonably well, but it’s not ideal. For a beginner-friendly sandbar, this is a day to have a paddle and see if you can snag a couple of knee-high waves. But don’t expect any fireworks. This is a quiet spell, and the forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a lean run.

Rusty out.

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