Surf Forecasts:
Californias surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 9PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 9s period, W swell with 1,459 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Californias this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Californias in the next 16 days are 3.0m 9s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 9PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 7s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 6AM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 9PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Californias over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get stuck into it. Rusty here, and I’ve got the full picture for Californias – a reef break and a fairly consistent one at that. It’s set up for advanced surfers, with an optimum swell from the north.
First up, right now we’re looking at a rough start. The forecast kicks off on Wednesday, 26 August, with a risk of thunderstorms and a strong southwest wind hammering the place at 31 mph. The swell’s a powerful 10 ft from the NNW – that’s a lot of energy (1552) – but it’s cross-onshore and blown out. Not a wave you’d paddle out for. That kind of size over 8 ft is experts-only at the best of times, and this ain’t the best of times.
Thursday morning, 27 August, is still a write-off. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is cross-shore and messy. There’s a glimmer Thursday afternoon – the swell jumps to 10 ft from the west with an 11-second period, giving us a huge energy reading of 1781. But the wind is still cross-shore, and the conditions are marginal at best. It’s a big, powerful swell, but it’s not clean. This one’s for the die-hards only.
Friday, 28 August, brings a change. The wind swings cross-offshore, and the morning is clean. The swell drops to 5 ft from the west, period 10 seconds, energy 567. It’s small, but that clean wind makes it the best we’ve seen so far. The afternoon holds at 4 ft, also clean. This is a solid window for a more manageable surf, but it’s not a standout.
Then we hit a flat spell. Saturday, 29 August, the swell bottoms out at 2 ft, and by Sunday, 30 August, we’re down to 0.7 ft. The wind is offshore and clean on Sunday, but there’s barely any swell. That’s a blank run of a few days.
Monday, 31 August, through to Tuesday, 1 September, there’s zero swell. Nothing. Just wind and risk of thunderstorms. The break is quiet.
Now, hold on. Wednesday, 2 September, things get wild. The swell cranks up to 25 ft on Wednesday morning from the NNW, with a period of 11 seconds and a colossal energy of 14066. By the afternoon, it’s 26 ft, energy 18294. That is a massive, powerful groundswell from the northwest. But the wind is strong and cross-onshore, and the conditions are messy. For a reef break like Californias, this much energy is a monster, but the wind is ruining it. I’m calling it a washout.
Thursday, 3 September, is the standout. The swell drops to 20 ft from the NW, still a heavy 12-second period, energy 9820. The wind is moderate cross-shore, but it’s a better day. The afternoon sees a 15 ft swell from the NNW, 13-second period, energy 7442, and the wind is cross-offshore and clean. This is the best on offer. The swell is over 8 ft, so it’s strictly for experts, but that long period (13 seconds) combined with the clean conditions makes for some serious, well-shaped waves. The reef will handle that long-period groundswell beautifully. Just be aware of the crowds, which are often here.
Friday, 4 September, holds a 12 ft swell from the NW, period 12 seconds, energy 3541. The wind stays cross-offshore and clean. Consistent, clean, and heavy. It’s a good follow-up day, but not quite the peak of Thursday.
From Saturday, 5 September, onwards, the swell slowly fades. Saturday morning is 7 ft from the NNW, dropping to 6 ft in the afternoon with offshore wind. That’s rideable for the advanced crew. By Sunday, 6 September, it’s down to 4 ft, and by Monday, 7 September, there’s almost nothing, with strong offshore winds making it hard to paddle into. The rest of the forecast into the second week shows very small swell and gale-force winds, so it’s not worth the drive.
The water temperature is about average for the time of year, so no wetsuit surprises there.
To sum it up: the first week is a struggle with wind and blown-out big swells. The real standout is Thursday, 3 September, with a big, clean, long-period groundswell from the northwest. That’s your day to get out there if you’re an expert. Friday, 4 September, is a solid backup. After that, it fades fast.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 30°C on Thu morning, min 27°C on Wed morning). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Wed morning, light winds from the S by Thu morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the ESE on Sat morning, strong winds from the ENE by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | 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) | NW 9 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | E 7 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1275 | 884 | 1375 | 972 | 882 | 680 | 326 | 164 | 76 | 30 | 33 | 30 | 34 | 14 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 378 | 419 | 645 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | off | off | off | off | cross-off | off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:07PM1.92m | 6:28AM1.97m | 7:28PM2.00m | 7:03AM2.08m | 7:50PM2.07m | 7:38AM2.16m | 8:14PM2.11m | 8:14AM2.20m | 8:39PM2.14m | 8:52AM2.18m | 9:06PM2.15m | 9:32AM2.11m | 9:36PM2.12m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:33PM0.45m | 00:51AM0.99m | 1:03PM0.38m | 1:16AM0.84m | 1:32PM0.34m | 1:43AM0.70m | 2:01PM0.34m | 2:13AM0.58m | 2:31PM0.39m | 2:45AM0.47m | 3:01PM0.49m | 3:20AM0.42m | 3:33PM0.63m | ||||||||
6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
— | 6:54 | — | — | 6:53 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | |
mm | 6 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 24 | 51 |
Temp °C | 29 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | WNW 9 | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | WNW 10 | W 10 | W 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SE 8 | SW 9 | SE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | E 10 | ESE 12 | ESE 12 |
1275 | 884 | 1375 | 972 | 882 | 680 | 326 | 164 | 101 | 84 | 101 | 62 | 77 | 80 | 29 | 115 | 372 | 307 | 339 | 819 | 861 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | E 9 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | E 7 | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | SSW 9 | SE 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SW 10 | SSW 10 | S 10 | S 10 |
74 | 41 | 22 | 18 | 16 | 79 | 115 | 93 | 76 | 30 | 12 | 29 | 35 | 65 | 24 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 34 | 53 | 56 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 15 | SSE 10 | E 13 | E 13 | SE 9 | E 12 | E 12 | E 12 | E 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 12 | ENE 11 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SSW 9 | SE 12 | SW 10 | SW 10 |
4 | 9 | 31 | 30 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 14 | 17 | 33 | 30 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 33 | 37 | 17 | 37 | 15 | 15 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 8 | SW 7 | S 6 | SSW 9 | S 8 | SE 8 | SE 7 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ENE 3 | ESE 9 | NE 4 | NE 5 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 |
770 | 505 | 139 | 99 | 144 | 94 | 97 | 98 | 153 | 91 | 81 | 84 | 34 | 3 | 180 | 36 | 51 | 134 | 378 | 419 | 645 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 609 | 609 | 601 | 609 | 601 | 63 | 17 | 601 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 619 | 657 | 657 | 609 | 775 | 733 |
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.











