Good Sized Southern Hemi | Socal Weekly Forecast | 8.18 - 8.24

Overview

A pretty solid couple of days to start off this week’s forecast. The main story will be a locally good-sized Southern Hemisphere swell peaking towards the back half of the work week. Even as the swell dies, there will still be some fun surf lingering into the weekend. There won’t be much NW swell in the water, so most spots will be fairly walled as the Southern Hemi dominates all week.

A contrast from last week’s weather, as a cooler air mass moves into the region. Wednesday the 18th and Thursday the 19th will see a pretty thick marine layer with even the chance of some drizzle. Into the weekend things will remain cool (in terms of August weather), and then we’ll eventually see a slow warmup starting with the new work week. Conditions wise, most mornings through the week do look to have light winds, but not as calm as they were last week. Overall, mornings will still be the best window to target through this run of swell.

Best Bets

Know your limits during the peak of the swell.
Target the southerly focal points during the first half of the forecast.
Mornings will have the best conditions each day.

Day to Day Breakdown

Wednesday the 18th: 3-5+ feet (larger sets late)

Locally good-sized southern hemi fills in all day, already showing solid surf for the long period southerly focal points. Size should pick up a notch or two throughout the day as the swell builds. Morning winds look slightly textured early, but remaining on the lighter side throughout the evening.

Thursday the 19th: 4-6+ feet

Southern hemi tops out and holds. Top southerly focal points will show more size than shown above, but non-summer spots will show less size than that. Target a point or structure, or else things will be pretty walled. Keep an eye out for possible light onshore wind in the morning, but still manageable and best window of the day. Know your limits throughout the day!

Friday the 20th: 3-5+ (largest early)

Southern hemi still shows good size, but it begins its slow easing trend. The morning will be a really good window to target a surf, as the swell maintains solid energy, and morning winds look better than Wednesday/Thursday.

Saturday the 21st: 2-4 feet (largest early)

Southern hemi is still the only major swell in the water as it continues to ease. It will be another day of good surf as fun-sized energy hangs in there, and morning winds look light.

Sunday the 22nd: 2-3 feet

Southern hemi eases and eventually bottoms out, only showing fun-sized surf for select summer breaks. The morning tidepush looks to be the best window of surf as light winds are expected.

Monday the 23rd: 1-3 feet

Pretty small surf as only leftover south swell shows. Morning tide push could have an okay window of surf, so might be a day for a bigger board. Right now morning winds don’t look ideal, with a light onshore wind forecasted early.

Tuesday the 24th: 1-3 feet

Small surf continues, as a new Southern Hemi may start showing through the day. Not much additional size expected, so another slow day and in store like Monday.

– Jax Richards @jax6street