Ventura Overhead Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, and I gotta be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking grim for Ventura Overhead. This is a run of flatness and poor conditions that’s hard to stomach. We’ve got a solid stretch from now through to about the 18th of September where the surf is just not happening.

Starting off, this Friday, September 4th, is a complete write-off. The swell energy is zero (0), and the water’s running at 70°F, which is about 6°F warmer than normal for this time of year – that’s a wild anomaly, feels like summer has overstayed. But there's no surf to enjoy it in. Saturday the 5th through to the morning of Wednesday the 9th is all flat, with combined swell energy barely cracking 20 at best. It’s a cruel stretch of tiny wind chop and no shape.

We get a tiny pulse of life on the afternoon of Thursday, September 10th, with a 0.7m (2 ft) SW swell at 12 seconds, giving us a combined energy of 133 (moderate). That’s a bit of groundswell, but with a 9 mph cross-onshore wind, it’s gonna be a choppy mess. Still, the period is long enough to suggest some better-shaped waves underneath the surface, maybe worth a paddle for the desperate.

The next flicker is on Friday the 11th afternoon. A 1.0m (3 ft) W swell at a short 7 seconds puts the energy at 241 (moderate), but with a light cross-onshore breeze it'll be disorganised. Not worth the hype. The following Saturday morning, September 12th, we see 0.5m (2 ft) from the SW at 14 seconds (energy 159), but again, a light cross-onshore wind will spoil the face.

Honestly, the only real standout in this entire window lands on Friday, September 18th. The afternoon session shows a 1.0m (3 ft) W swell at 10 seconds, with a combined energy of 267 (moderate to strong) and, crucially, the wind switches to light, and it’s *onshore*. That’s not ideal, but it’s the best consistency and energy we’ll see. The morning of the 18th has the same swell size with light cross-onshore breeze. It’s not perfect, but it’s the biggest and most energetic option in a long, flat drought.

Given the spot is an advanced, inconsistent reef break that only fires on the right NW swell, and we’re getting weak, short-period slop from the W and SW, it’s just not Ventura Overhead’s time. The setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing if you’re that way inclined. The long gaps with no recommendations are par for the course here – this area can be a real tease.

We’ll keep an eye on it, but for now, don’t hold your breath. The forecasts might change, but this is how it sits.

Rusty

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