56th St Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.62° N 117.94° W

56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 18 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 56th St sea temperature is
20.8° C
1.9° 

56th St surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


56th St surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SSW swell with 799 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period with SSW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 56th St this week:

The surf forecast for 56th St over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at 56th St in the next 16 days are 0.9m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf 2AM (Mon 20th Jul)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Most Powerful 5AM (Sat 25th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 21s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for 56th St over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a bit of a flat spell. We’ve got some background swell, but it’s mostly small and the conditions just aren’t cooperating. The first week is pretty much a write-off for quality waves, with a lot of poor surf and choppy, messy wind. There’s a glimmer of hope towards the very end, but we’ve got a long stretch of quiet before that.

We start off on Saturday the 18th of July at 56th St. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 69°, about average for the time of year. The swell is tiny, only 2ft from the SW, but the period is a very long 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell, which usually means better shape, but the energy is weak (295). The wind is light and onshore in the morning, turning cross-onshore and choppy by the afternoon. This spot is sheltered, but with that wind and no size, it’s a no-go.

Sunday the 19th sees a little bump in height to 3ft from the S, with a moderate energy level (522) and a 13-second period. Still, the wind is onshore and the surf is rated poor. The same story continues through Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday – small, weak swells, and cross-onshore winds making it choppy. The energy values hover in the 300-600 range, which is weak to moderate, but the quality just isn’t there.

Come Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th, the swell direction stays out of the SSW, with heights around 2-3ft. The Friday morning pulse has a period of 24 seconds, which is very long, but the energy is still only moderate (727). The wind is finally light and onshore, but the surf is too small and weak to get excited about.

Then we hit a gap. From Saturday the 25th through to Wednesday the 30th, conditions are described as “marginal” at best, with a few mornings scoring a 1 out of 10. The swell is still small, mostly 3-4ft, and the wind is light and onshore, or cross-onshore. It’s frustrating – the wind is often light, but the swell just doesn’t have the juice to make anything of it. The energy figures climb into the 800-900 range, which is moderate, but the surf is still poor or marginal.

Now, the only standout in the whole outlook is a late-blooming pulse arriving on Friday the 31st of July. The morning shows a jump in swell to 6ft from the S, with a period of 15 seconds and a strong wave energy of 1509. This is a significant groundswell. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which will create some texture, but for a sheltered spot like 56th St, the size might be a bit much for beginners. It’s really the only day with any real power. The afternoon stays solid at 6ft, but the wind picks up to a gentle cross-onshore, making it choppier.

The first couple of days of August see the swell drop back down. Saturday the 1st has 6ft from the S, but the wind is moderate cross-onshore, so it’s going to be choppy. Sunday the 2nd is back to small, weak swell.

So, if you’re itching for a wave, the best bet is the morning of Friday the 31st of July. That’s the one day with real size and energy, but don’t expect perfection. The rest of the time, it’s a long wait for anything worthwhile.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
18
Sunday
19
Monday
20
Tuesday
21
Wednesday
22
Thursday
23
Friday
24
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
2
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
18
0.6
SW
18
0.6
S
11
0.9
S
13
0.8
SW
17
1.2
SSW
12
1.1
SSW
11
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
15
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
13
0.6
SW
24
0.5
SW
24
0.7
SW
21
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
246
255
85
277
350
411
314
258
298
575
434
439
334
325
257
168
207
184
444
271
467
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
15
WSW
5
S
10
SSW
10
SW
5
SW
10
SW
15
WSW
5
S
10
S
15
WSW
10
SSE
5
SW
20
W
10
S
5
WSW
15
WSW
10
SSE
10
S
10
SSW
10
SSE
Wind State
on
cross-on
on
on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
High Tide
1:28PM1.40m
00:54AM1.36m
2:13PM1.43m
1:58AM1.10m
3:00PM1.44m
3:31AM0.90m
3:52PM1.46m
5:49AM0.83m
4:48PM1.48m
7:48AM0.89m
5:43PM1.52m
8:44AM0.97m
6:32PM1.57m
Low Tide
7:20PM0.54m
7:35AM0.16m
8:37PM0.53m
8:11AM0.38m
10:08PM0.48m
8:49AM0.57m
11:41PM0.37m
9:37AM0.73m
00:53AM0.23m
10:50AM0.84m
1:45AM0.11m
12:07PM0.88m
2:25AM0.01m
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:00
8:00
8:00
7:59
7:59
7:58
7:58
 mm
Temp °C
21
22
21
21
22
21
23
24
23
23
24
23
24
25
23
25
26
23
24
24
22
Feels °C
22
22
22
21
22
21
23
23
23
22
23
23
25
24
22
26
25
23
24
24
23
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the 56th St Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for 56th St provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at 56th St can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 56th St 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 (56th St) 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 56th St 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.

56th St is 2 km (1 miles) from the city of Newport Beach. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Newport Beach. Newport Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

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