
Surf Forecasts:
Californias surf forecast from 5 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Friday 7 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 17s period, E swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 7 Aug, 3PM (local time) - 36ft (11.0m), 13s period, N swell with 42,979 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 7 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 15ft (4.5m), 17s period with E 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 Friday (Aug 07) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 4.5m and 17s period with a secondary swell of 6.5m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-shore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Californias in the next 16 days are 11.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 07) at 3PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 12.0m 14s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 08) at 12PM.
| Wave Type | Time (JST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 17s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Fri 7th Aug) | 15ft (4.5m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 3PM (Fri 7th Aug) | 36ft (11.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Californias over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, let’s have a look at what’s shaping up.
Well, I won’t lie to you, it’s a pretty grim run we’ve got ahead. The first real chance to even think about getting wet is on the morning of Wednesday the 5th, but even that’s a stretch. Everything after that for the next week or more is just not happening.
The Wednesday morning of August 5th is the quiet starter. You’ve got a 6 ft east swell with a long 17 second period – proper groundswell energy, which is nice, around 1682 (moderate energy). Water temp is sitting at 87°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. The issue is the wind is a cross-off from the NE at 9 mph, and the comment calls it “marginal or questionable tide conditions.” It’s the best we’ve got early on, but it's borderline.
From Thursday the 6th right through until at least Monday the 18th, it’s a write-off. We’re looking at a solid 13-day stretch where nearly every period is marked by poor conditions, huge winds, or absolute junk. Thursday morning (Aug 6) shows a big 10 ft east swell but it’s under a 25 mph cross-off wind—just messy. Friday the 7th is where it goes next-level dangerous: a 25 ft north swell at 12 seconds with storm force cross-shore winds of 59 mph. That’s not for surfing, that’s a survival situation. The wave energy is a massive 25069 (very strong). If you’re into kitesurfing, maybe it’s your day, but for paddle surfing it’s an absolute no-go. The afternoon hits 36 ft with hurricane-force winds of 84 mph. Stay out of the water.
Saturday the 8th through the 15th is all tiny junk. Most of the swell is under 3 ft, periods are short, and the wind is across or onshore. By Tuesday the 12th we see a tiny 3 ft west swell at 8 seconds, 103 energy, but the wind is finally light and clean from the NNE at 3 mph – it’s surfable but very ordinary.
The only other little flicker comes on Monday morning the 17th of August. A tiny 1 ft east swell with a 13 second period – that’s a super long period for such a small wave. It’ll be clean with a gentle offshore from the ENE at 9 mph. The energy is weak though, only 56. It’s not going to get anyone excited, but for a log or a longboard, it might be the only glassy option in weeks.
Honestly, through most of this, there’s nothing I’d call a standout. The Wednesday the 5th morning is the pick, but it’s barely a pick. If you’re committed, that’s your window. Otherwise, this is a long, flat, and angry spell. Blank runs like this are more common than we’d like, but things can change.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 193mm), heaviest during Fri afternoon. Warm (max 31°C on Wed morning, min 28°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NE on Wed morning, extremely windy from the NNW by Fri afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 571mm), heaviest during Sat night. Warm (max 30°C on Mon afternoon, min 28°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (extremely windy from the SSE on Sat morning, moderate winds from the SSW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 17 | E 17 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | E 17 | N 12 | N 13 | NNW 11 | NW 14 | S 15 | ENE 10 | ENE 15 | E 14 | E 14 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
1682 | 2149 | 3380 | 4804 | 5472 | 8480 | 14980 | 42979 | 3655 | 54 | 0 | 108 | 42 | 37 | 100 | 8253 | 4089 | 1921 | 563 | 332 | 288 | |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:26AM1.80m | 11:29PM1.96m | 12:40PM1.64m | 00:20AM1.89m | 2:33PM1.55m | 1:33AM1.83m | 4:33PM1.62m | 3:07AM1.83m | 5:46PM1.76m | 4:31AM1.92m | 6:33PM1.89m | 5:36AM2.05m | 7:10PM2.00m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:17PM0.88m | 6:17AM0.64m | 6:08PM1.08m | 7:37AM0.65m | 7:25PM1.25m | 9:12AM0.60m | 9:22PM1.33m | 10:37AM0.47m | 10:58PM1.26m | 11:41AM0.32m | 11:59PM1.13m | 12:31PM0.21m | 00:45AM0.97m | ||||||||
5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | |
mm | — | 3 | — | — | — | 13 | 45 | 119 | 13 | 63 | 102 | 245 | 100 | 37 | 16 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Temp °C | 31 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
Feels °C | 33 | 32 | 30 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 17 | 25 | 33 | 22 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 25 | 29 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 17 | E 17 | E 17 | E 16 | E 16 | E 17 | ENE 17 | ENE 14 | NNW 11 | NW 14 | — | ENE 10 | E 15 | WSW 15 | WSW 15 | W 14 | W 13 | W 12 | W 10 | SW 11 | W 9 |
1682 | 2149 | 3380 | 4804 | 5472 | 8480 | 10089 | 4555 | 3655 | 54 | — | 108 | 17 | 6103 | 15497 | 8253 | 4089 | 1921 | 563 | 756 | 288 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 15 | — | — | ENE 15 | ENE 15 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | W 9 | S 10 |
5 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 318 | — | — | 42 | 42 | 37 | 100 | 132 | 134 | 126 | 81 | 332 | 302 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | N 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | E 13 | E 12 | ENE 12 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 245 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 199 | 75 | 49 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 6 | NNE 4 | NNE 6 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | N 10 | N 12 | N 13 | S 9 | S 13 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SW 11 |
22 | 34 | 111 | 653 | 1117 | 3966 | 14980 | 42979 | 3219 | 40988 | 60040 | 30562 | 28548 | 25900 | 4921 | 3811 | 3314 | 2850 | 1995 | 785 | 862 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 609 | 601 | 793 | 793 | 609 | 1323 | 1323 | 733 | 1297 | 733 | 733 | 733 | 733 | 622 | 622 | 619 | 601 | 601 | 601 | 24 |
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.











