Surf Forecasts:
Californias surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 16s period, E swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 9AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 16s period, E swell with 2,609 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 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 1.2m 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 2.3m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 3AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Californias over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
To be honest, it’s a pretty grim start. We’re looking at a long dry spell. From now until the 24th of August, there’s basically nothing worth paddling out for. The wind is howling from the south-east, often around 25 mph, and there’s a risk of thunderstorms hanging around. The combined energy of any swell is basically zero. It’s a real write-off.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday the 25th. That’s the standout session. Californias wakes up. On Tuesday morning, a solid 8 ft east-northeast groundswell with a very long period of 16 seconds rolls in. The combined energy is a massive 2673, so there’s plenty of grunt. The wind is offshore from the east-northeast at 12 mph, which will keep the waves clean. This is serious stuff though – over 8 ft, so it’s strictly for the experienced crew. Later that day, Tuesday afternoon, it drops to a still-juicy 6 ft from the east with a 14-second period, and the wind swings to a lighter north-east offshore at 9 mph. The water temp is sitting at 84°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year.
After that buzz, it gets messy. Wednesday the 26th sees the wind turn cross-shore from the north-west, and the swell is all over the place. By Thursday the 27th, the swell is weak and short period, with a combined energy of just 102. The rest of the week and into the next is a mix of tiny, weak swell and onshore winds. There’s nothing that really gets the heart racing.
There is a bit of a question mark hanging over Friday the 4th of September. The morning shows a 6 ft swell from the east-northeast with a 9-second period. The combined energy is 572 and the wind is light cross-offshore from the north, so it’s clean. It’s flagged as marginal, so it’s worth keeping an eye on, but it’s not a guarantee.
Look, it’s a tough forecast. That Tuesday the 25th is the one and only real standout. The rest of the window is dominated by poor conditions and a lack of quality swell. It’s the kind of run that tests your patience.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 26°C on Fri afternoon). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the ESE on Thu night, strong winds from the SE by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 11mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue morning, min 26°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the ESE on Sun afternoon, light winds from the N by Tue night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | S 9 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | E 14 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | E 7 | ENE 7 | E 16 | E 14 | E 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
0 | 27 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 284 | 147 | 2609 | 1336 | 599 | 367 | 209 | 55 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | off | off | off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:19PM1.50m | 11:42PM1.80m | 2:15PM1.40m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:24PM1.15m | 7:13AM0.83m | 6:02PM1.32m | 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 | ||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
mm | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 30 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | SW 8 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | SW 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSE 10 | SSE 9 | ESE 18 | ESE 17 | E 16 | E 14 | E 13 | ENE 13 | ENE 13 | S 10 |
44 | 78 | 99 | 57 | 74 | 90 | 163 | 82 | 96 | 377 | 333 | 482 | 383 | 1327 | 1648 | 2609 | 1336 | 599 | 367 | 209 | 44 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 9 | SW 9 | S 8 | — | — | — | — | — | SW 9 | SW 10 | ESE 16 | ESE 18 | SSE 9 | SE 9 | SSW 10 | S 9 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | ENE 12 |
12 | 13 | 13 | 50 | — | — | — | — | — | 87 | 61 | 147 | 356 | 157 | 225 | 96 | 137 | 68 | 45 | 47 | 55 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | ENE 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 14 | ESE 13 | SW 10 | ESE 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SE 7 | SE 8 | SW 10 | SW 9 | SW 10 | SW 9 |
— | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | 18 | 34 | 246 | 85 | 55 | 44 | 91 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 4 | SE 6 | SE 7 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SE 9 | SSE 9 | E 5 | E 6 | ESE 7 | E 6 | E 7 | ENE 7 | NE 8 | NE 6 | NNE 6 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 |
146 | 91 | 47 | 167 | 623 | 989 | 910 | 1057 | 520 | 64 | 187 | 189 | 116 | 284 | 147 | 64 | 118 | 63 | 19 | 41 | 54 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 601 | 601 | 609 | 609 | 601 | 635 | 827 | 601 | 744 | 733 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 27 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Okinawa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Japan | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











