
Surf Forecasts:
56th St surf forecast from 20 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 19s period, SW swell with 863 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 22 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s 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 Wednesday (Jul 22) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m 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 1.1m 19s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 22nd Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 21s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 56th St over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again, giving you the same look in old-school units. The 16-day outlook for 56th St is a tough one, no two ways about it. There’s a big gap of no good surf, starting right now and running all the way through late July and into early August. You’re looking at a long stretch of nothing worth the drive.
The problem is the wind is almost always coming across the beach, and the swell direction is just wrong for this spot. The water is a balmy 70°F, which is way warmer than normal for this time of year, a real anomaly of about 4°F, so it’s a warm soak, but that’s the only highlight.
Let’s break it down. Monday the 20th starts with a 4ft SSW swell, but a light onshore breeze kills it. Tuesday the 21st is a little bigger at 4ft, but again, cross-onshore wind keeps it messy. This pattern repeats for days: small swell, poor wind, poor surf. The wave energy is moderate, but it’s all wasted. The long period swells, like the 21-second stuff on the 25th, are a real tease—they’d be great somewhere else, but here they just don’t work.
We get a little more energy on the 24th, with a 4ft S swell, and the wind is light and onshore, but it’s still only a “maybe” because of the tide. That’s the closest we come to a real window.
The only thing that might be worth a look is way out on Tuesday the 4th of August. The morning shows a 5ft S swell with a long period, and by the afternoon it’s pushing 5ft. The wind is a light cross-onshore, which is a bit better, but it’s still a marginal call. That’s getting into the size that’s a bit much for beginners, and the long period means it’ll have some punch. It’s a long way out, and the forecast is shaky.
Honestly, the setup here looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing for most of this run. The wind is consistent and the water is warm, but for a surfer, it’s a real bummer. The only potential standout is that one day on August 4th, and that’s a big “if.” Let’s hope the models change.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Thu afternoon, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 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) | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
308 | 258 | 298 | 679 | 358 | 434 | 334 | 325 | 442 | 590 | 581 | 609 | 573 | 499 | 467 | 584 | 333 | 738 | 657 | 470 | 547 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 9:14AM1.02m | 7:16PM1.63m | 9:37AM1.06m | 7:54PM1.70m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:04PM0.86m | 2:58AM-0.06m | 1:48PM0.81m | 3:29AM-0.11m | |||||||
5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 18 |
308 | 202 | 298 | 679 | 358 | 434 | 334 | 325 | 442 | 590 | 581 | 609 | 573 | 499 | 424 | 308 | 333 | 738 | 657 | 470 | 547 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | SW 16 | S 10 | W 5 | S 9 | SSW 8 | W 6 | S 14 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 26 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | W 7 |
8 | 258 | 96 | 2 | 59 | 57 | 15 | 264 | 63 | 36 | 105 | 68 | 56 | 25 | 467 | 584 | 294 | 199 | 138 | 105 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSE 14 | SW 12 | W 4 | SSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SW 6 | SW 6 | SSW 17 | SW 24 | SW 24 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 11 |
20 | 4 | 114 | 20 | 66 | 6 | 36 | 22 | 257 | 6 | 6 | 100 | 444 | 271 | 26 | 43 | 30 | 26 | 41 | 28 | 78 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | 1 | 9 | — | 13 | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 110 | 43 | 46 | 125 | 16 | 125 | 125 | 18 | 114 | 120 | 46 | 46 | 87 | 5 | 42 | 105 | 14 | 120 | 120 | 46 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










