Californias Surf Break

Lat Long: 26.35° N 127.75° E

Californias Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 2 am 17 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Californias sea temperature is
28.7° C
0.1° 

Californias surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Californias surf forecast from 16 Aug 2026:

  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 6PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, E swell with 387 kJ wave energy.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Californias this week:

The most powerful waves expected at Californias in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 6PM. 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 9s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 3PM.

Wave TypeTime (JST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)--
Best Surf--
Most Powerful 6PM (Wed 19th Aug)6ft (1.9m) 7s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Californias over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here, grab a coffee and let’s talk waves.

Right out of the gate, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is pretty grim. We’re looking at a stretch from Monday the 17th all the way through to Monday the 24th of August that’s basically a write-off for any decent paddle surfing. You’ll see tiny, weak energy sliding in at times, like a 1ft NE windswell with a pathetic 10-second period on Monday, but the commentary says it all: poor conditions. The wind is mostly cross or onshore, and with total wave energy readings under 25 (23 on Monday morning, for example), there’s just nothing to get excited about. Even when we get a little burst of 5ft from the east on Wednesday the 19th, that wind is howling at 22 mph and it’s a stormy mess. The water temp is sitting around a warm 84°F, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

We’ve got a solid gap with no real surfing through that first week. Then, just when you think it’s all over, Tuesday the 25th of August morning turns glassy – dead calm, 2ft of weak easterly swell, but it’s still too small to bother with. That’s the calm before the storm, literally.

Now listen, things go absolutely berserk from Wednesday the 26th. But this is a classic case of “be careful what you wish for.” Wednesday morning the 26th brings a thumping 8ft east-northeast groundswell with a long 15-second period – that’s a beautiful clean line-up on paper, with the combined swell energy reading a massive 4083. The wind is a light cross-shore from the NNW, so the ocean might look clean, but that wave height is already borderline for most. By Wednesday afternoon, we’re looking at 13ft from the north, period dropping to 9 seconds, still cross-shore at 12 mph. Then Thursday the 27th goes nuclear: 16ft from the north-northwest, period around 10 seconds, and the wind picks up to 19-22 mph – combined energy hits 4741. This is not for anyone without serious big-wave experience. The swell is too big, the wind is too strong, and the commentary calls it “marginal” at best. For a reef setup like this, that much long-period swell might just close out or get unruly. Honestly, for most folks, this window is more about spotting kitesurfing action than riding a surfboard.

The crazy weather continues right through the end of the month. Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th have winds screaming at 37 to 53 mph, with solid 10ft swell but the sea state is described as “ridiculous to paddle into.” The only window that might have some hope for a strong, experienced local is Sunday the 30th of August, when we get a 8ft to 10ft NW groundswell with a period of 11-12 seconds, and the wind swings to an offshore cross-off from the ESE. The energy is still huge (2940), but the wind is clean. Even then, that’s a heavy day for experts only.

The outlook doesn’t really settle down until the very end of the forecast – Tuesday the 1st of September. That morning we see a drop to 5ft from the NNW, with a short 7-second period, and clean cross-off winds. The energy has dropped to 491, which is moderate but manageable. The afternoon brings a shift to 3ft from the east with a 12-second period – that’s a touch longer period, but it’s small.

If I had to pick a true standout from this whole mess, it’s a tough call. The only day that offers a chance for someone who knows what they’re doing and has the quiver for it is Sunday the 30th of August. The clean offshore wind on a big, long-period NW swell is the best combo on offer. But it is still expert-only territory. For everyone else, put the boards away and maybe watch the ocean from the cliff. The forecast can always change, but this run looks locked in for a while.

Rusty out.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 19mm), heaviest on Wed afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Mon morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the ESE on Mon morning, fresh winds from the E by Wed afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Heavy rain (total 27mm), heaviest during Thu night. Warm (max 29°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
17
Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.3
ENE
10
0.5
SW
9
1.3
E
5
1.6
E
8
1.6
E
8
2
ESE
8
1.8
ESE
9
2.5
SE
9
1.8
SSE
9
1
S
9
0.1
E
14
0.1
E
14
2.2
SSE
8
0.1
E
14
0.2
E
13
0.1
E
14
0.2
E
14
0.9
S
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
20
19
19
18
0
0
334
314
0
0
0
0
0
4
4
0
4
13
4
16
0
Wind (km/h)
15
ESE
15
ESE
20
ESE
20
E
25
E
25
ENE
35
E
35
E
25
SE
15
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
20
S
20
S
30
S
25
S
25
S
25
S
15
SSW
20
SSW
15
S
Wind State
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
High Tide
9:54AM2.02m
10:07PM2.08m
10:34AM1.85m
10:36PM2.01m
11:19AM1.67m
11:07PM1.91m
12:19PM1.50m
11:42PM1.80m
2:15PM1.40m
00:33AM1.69m
5:17PM1.48m
2:15AM1.61m
6:02PM1.61m
Low Tide
4:00PM0.62m
4:31AM0.58m
4:28PM0.80m
5:13AM0.66m
4:55PM0.98m
6:04AM0.75m
5:24PM1.15m
7:13AM0.83m
6:02PM1.32m
8:53AM0.84m
8:41PM1.43m
10:25AM0.77m
11:03PM1.37m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
mod rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:04
7:02
7:01
7:00
7:00
6:59
6:58
 mm
2
4
6
7
2
2
7
1
3
2
2
4
4
4
2
1
Temp °C
29
29
27
28
29
28
27
27
27
29
28
27
29
29
28
28
27
27
28
29
27
Feels °C
32
32
30
29
30
29
27
27
28
32
31
29
30
31
28
29
28
28
30
31
31
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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.

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