56th St Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.62° N 117.94° W

56th St Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 18 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's 56th St sea temperature is
21.6° C
2.2° 

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 18 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 280 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 (Aug 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5PM. 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 (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 15s
Best Surf 5AM (Mon 24th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 14s
Most Powerful 5PM (Wed 19th Aug)2.5ft (0.8m) 16s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, Rusty here. Let's call it like it is for the next couple of weeks.

We’re looking at a real flat spell. The whole 16-day window is a slow one, with a big gap of several days at the start where there’s just nothing worth paddling out for. The first week is a total bust – tiny, weak, and messy.

The only break we’ve got to talk about is 56th St, and it’s not exactly pumping. The water temp is sitting at 71°F, which is a solid 4°F above average for this time of year – that’s noticeably warmer than usual.

Going through it day by day: from Tuesday, August 18th right through to Monday, August 31st, the swell is tiny. We’re talking 1ft to 3ft. The swell direction is a consistent SSW, with periods mostly in the 13 to 16 second range. That long period hints at some energy, but the size is just too small to matter. The wind is a problem, too. It’s almost always a cross-onshore or onshore breeze from the SW or SSW, blowing at 6 to 9 mph. That’s going to keep the surface all chopped up. The combined wave energy is weak, sitting in the low to mid hundreds (e.g., 118 to 361). Every session is marked as poor surf conditions.

There is one tiny glimmer on Wednesday, September 2nd. The morning shows a swell height of only 2ft, but the period jumps to a very long 19 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, and the energy reading hits 472 (moderate), which is the best we see. But, the wind is still a cross-on 9 mph from the SSE, so it won’t be clean. That afternoon, the period drops back down. It’s a promising blip, but it’s over a week away, so keep your expectations in check.

Honestly, there are no standout days here. If you absolutely have to get wet, the morning of September 2nd is your best bet for a few long-period lines, but that cross-on wind will be a buzzkill. A quiet run like this is pretty normal for this area when the swell goes on holiday.

- Rusty

Short Range Forecast

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

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Tuesday
18
Wednesday
19
Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
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
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
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
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.7
SSW
14
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.5
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
SW
19
0.4
SW
18
0.7
SSW
14
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
17
0.6
SW
17
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
203
181
242
270
280
196
183
183
175
101
99
98
63
120
165
127
112
210
154
142
175
Wind (km/h)
10
SW
15
W
5
S
5
SW
15
W
10
S
10
S
10
SSW
5
SSE
10
SSW
10
SW
5
S
10
SW
10
SW
5
SSW
10
WSW
10
SSW
10
WSW
10
WSW
15
W
5
WSW
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
1:38PM1.46m
3:19AM0.85m
2:30PM1.41m
3:46PM1.38m
8:37AM0.99m
5:09PM1.41m
8:34AM1.06m
6:13PM1.49m
8:46AM1.11m
7:00PM1.58m
9:00AM1.16m
7:38PM1.67m
Low Tide
9:18PM0.42m
7:10AM0.76m
11:03PM0.38m
00:27AM0.28m
10:23AM0.99m
1:20AM0.17m
12:15PM0.95m
1:59AM0.08m
1:06PM0.87m
2:29AM0.00m
1:42PM0.77m
2:57AM-0.05m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:15
6:16
6:16
6:16
6:18
6:18
6:18
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:35
7:32
7:31
7:30
7:30
7:29
7:27
 mm
Temp °C
23
24
23
25
26
24
24
24
23
24
25
24
25
26
24
26
26
26
25
25
24
Feels °C
24
24
23
26
26
25
25
24
24
25
25
25
26
26
25
26
25
27
26
24
24
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • 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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