Surf Forecasts:
Californias surf forecast from 21 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 18s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 12PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 17s period, E swell with 4,817 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period with ENE swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Californias this week:
The surf forecast for Californias over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 7s period. The wind is predicted to be offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Californias in the next 16 days are 3.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 12PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 2.5m 18s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 12PM (Tue 25th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Californias over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for Californias. To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a patchy affair. We’ve got a dry spell to start, then a big pulse of energy rolls in, but it comes with some serious qualifiers.
We kick off with nearly nothing. Saturday the 22nd through Monday the 24th is basically flat. A few tiny, weak waves, poor conditions, and strong onshore winds. You’re better off doing something else. After that, things get interesting but not straightforward.
The standout window is actually Tuesday the 25th. Early morning, we’ve got a solid 10ft swell pushing in from the east, with a long period of 17 seconds. That’s groundswell, and it’s packing a punch – the combined energy is a massive 4695 (strong to very strong). The wind is light and cross-offshore, which means clean faces. This is a big, powerful swell. At 10ft, it’s expert territory. The long period will make it powerful and walled-up at this break, so only the experienced crew should be out there. The afternoon holds up similar size but with a bit less period and some clouds.
The rest of the week settles down. Wednesday the 26th through Thursday the 27th still has solid 7ft to 8ft swell, but the wind swings around to a light cross-onshore, which will put a bit of a bump on the surface. It’s surfable for the keen, but not the cleanest. Friday the 28th morning sees a drop to 6ft from the northwest, with a light cross-offshore breeze. It’s cleaner, but the energy is tailing off.
Then we hit another gap. From Saturday the 29th into the start of September, it’s small and weak again. Sunday the 30th afternoon, a new 4ft easterly swell shows up with a moderate offshore breeze. That’s cleaner, but small. For the first week of September, there’s a persistent NNE wind, keeping things cross-off and clean, but the swell is inconsistent and mostly in the 3ft to 4ft range. The best chance in that second week is Wednesday the 3rd, where a 8ft to 10ft northerly swell arrives. The wind is a fresh breeze, but it’s cross-off, so the faces will be clean. Again, that’s expert-level size.
The water temperature here is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing unusual.
So, my call: if you’re a solid expert, the absolute best is Tuesday the 25th, early. That’s a big, clean, powerful groundswell. For everyone else, keep an eye on the smaller but cleaner windows around Sunday the 30th afternoon and the first few days of September, but don’t expect much.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Fri night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun morning, min 26°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Tue afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 9 | E 9 | W 7 | SSW 10 | E 9 | SW 9 | ENE 11 | ENE 7 | E 17 | E 16 | ENE 14 | N 12 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 11 | 66 | 4695 | 3891 | 1189 | 1966 | 1514 | 901 | 920 | 832 | 1270 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:33AM1.69m | 5:17PM1.48m | 2:15AM1.61m | 6:02PM1.61m | 4:01AM1.63m | 6:26PM1.73m | 5:05AM1.73m | 6:47PM1.83m | 5:50AM1.85m | 7:07PM1.92m | 6:28AM1.97m | 7:28PM2.00m | |||||||
Low Tide | 8:53AM0.84m | 8:41PM1.43m | 10:25AM0.77m | 11:03PM1.37m | 11:21AM0.66m | 11:53PM1.25m | 12:00PM0.54m | 00:24AM1.12m | 12:33PM0.45m | 00:51AM0.99m | 1:03PM0.38m | 1:16AM0.84m | |||||||
— | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
7:00 | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | |
mm | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | ESE 17 | ESE 18 | E 17 | E 16 | ENE 14 | N 12 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 11 |
88 | 154 | 355 | 671 | 411 | 371 | 176 | 115 | 1230 | 2798 | 4695 | 3891 | 1189 | 1966 | 1514 | 901 | 920 | 832 | 1270 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 14 | E 9 | ESE 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 13 | SW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 9 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 |
4 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 17 | 30 | 64 | 79 | 130 | 47 | 37 | 40 | 83 | 81 | 108 | 81 | 72 | 48 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | E 14 | E 9 | W 7 | SE 10 | E 9 | ESE 16 | ENE 11 | ENE 10 | — | — | S 8 | E 11 | E 10 | E 8 | S 9 | S 8 | SW 10 |
— | — | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 53 | 11 | 19 | — | — | 12 | 62 | 17 | 13 | 38 | 34 | 34 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 8 | S 8 | S 9 | — | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | E 3 | E 6 | ENE 7 | NNE 5 | NNE 6 | N 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
411 | 589 | 715 | — | 17 | 22 | 28 | 10 | 59 | 66 | 38 | 94 | 399 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 601 | 744 | 657 | 601 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 621 | 27 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Okinawa | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Californias Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Californias provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Californias can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Californias surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Californias) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Californias may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Californias is 5 km (3 miles) from Misato. If you plan a holiday in Okinawa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Misato. Misato has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











