Ventura Overhead Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a honest look at what’s coming up for Ventura Overhead. I’ve gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty bleak for a proper surf. There’s a big blank stretch straight off the bat, with nothing worth paddling out for from now until the morning of Thursday the 11th of September. That’s a solid four days of flat, small, or just plain messy conditions.

The first time we see any real energy is on the morning of Thursday the 11th. A long-period SW groundswell arrives, but it’s weak. The combined wave energy is only 141 (moderate), with a swell height of just 2 ft. The wind is light and from the SW, so it’s blowing straight onshore. That’s about as unappealing as it gets. The water is a very unusual 70°, which is a shocking 6° warmer than average for this time of year – feels like a warm bath out there.

The few days that follow, through to the 14th, see a little more energy, but the swell height barely nudges up to 3 ft. The best of this limp period is the morning of Saturday the 13th and Monday the 14th, where the combined energy hits 166 (moderate) and the wind is light and onshore. But honestly, calling it a “standout” would be a stretch. The waves are small, the period is long (10 seconds), so it’s a groundswell, but at a beach and reef setup like this, it’s going to be weak and straight.

The only real blip of interest comes later. On the afternoon of Saturday the 19th of September, a new SW groundswell pulses in. The combined energy jumps to 188 (moderate) with a very long 18-second period. The swell is only 1 ft, but that long period means it’s got some push. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which is a bit better. Then on the morning of Sunday the 20th of September, the combined energy hits 219 (moderate to strong) from the SW with a 19-second period. That’s the most interesting energy in the whole forecast. But again, the swell height is only 2 ft. For a reef break that is inconsistent and rarely breaks, this might just be enough to produce a few clean, long lines. It’s a promising but less certain long-range look. The crowd situation here is often busy, so if it does show, expect company.

The rest of the second week is more of the same – small, weak, and onshore. Honestly, with the small swell and poor surf quality, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of the period.

So, to wrap it up: save your energy for the first week. The only true standout, if you can call it that, is the morning of Sunday the 20th of September. But don’t hold your breath. The rest is a write-off.

Rusty.

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