Surf Forecasts:
56th St surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period, SW 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, 8AM (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 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. 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 Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| 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
Right, well, this is a tough one. I’m Rusty, and I’ve been staring at the charts for 56th Street until my eyes went blurry, but I gotta be straight with you – it’s looking pretty flat and sad for the next couple of weeks. There’s no real surf to get excited about, just tiny dribbles and a lot of “poor surf conditions” notes.
From Tuesday, August 18, right through to Wednesday, September 2, the swell at 56th Street barely gets its head above water. We’re looking at a constant stream of small, weak swell, mostly from the SSW, stumbling in at only 1 ft to 3 ft. The combined wave energy is weak most days, hanging around 125 to 311, which is just a gentle bump, not a proper push. The period is all over the shop, sometimes a nice long 16 seconds or even 19 seconds, which would be great for shape, but there’s no height behind it to make it work. It’s like having a great engine with no fuel.
The water is unseasonably warm right now, coming in at 71°F, so that’s a small comfort if you just want a paddle, but the waves are just not there. Winds are mostly light and cross-onshore, which would be fine if there was a wave to surf, but at this size it just messes up the surface.
There’s a tiny flicker on the horizon. The mornings of Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30 show a slight bump to 3 ft and 3 ft from the SSW with a 15 to 16 second period. The combined wave energy actually pushes into the moderate range at 473 and 461, which is the best we’ll see. The wind on Saturday morning is very light and offshore from the SW, which could mean a glassy surface for a short while. It’s still small, and the rating is “marginal,” so don’t get your hopes up for anything with power, but if you’re desperate for a tiny, clean wave on a longboard at 56th Street, that Saturday morning (August 29) is the only time in this whole outlook I’d even bother checking. After that, it’s back to tiny and choppy right through to the start of September.
Honestly, for paddle surfing, this is a write-off. A long blank run like this is pretty normal for this area when the swell windows close up. If you’re a kiter, the moderate cross-shore winds on the afternoon of Monday, August 24 might look more interesting than the waves do. Otherwise, keep the board in the car and wait for the next proper swell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 20°C on Tue morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, 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 | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 203 | 181 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 121 | 165 | 127 | 112 | 210 | 154 | 142 | 175 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | 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 | |||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | |  |  | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 24 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 7 |
| kJ | 41 | 30 | 39 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 121 | 165 | 99 | 98 | 210 | 16 | 142 | 91 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 11 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 203 | 181 | 242 | 42 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 10 | 5 | 81 | 50 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 127 | 112 | 155 | 154 | 50 | 175 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WSW 5 | SSW 12 | S 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 67 | 66 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 57 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 51 | 42 | 27 | 58 | 86 | 50 | 7 | 52 | 66 | 89 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | 68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 32 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 47 | 125 | 28 | 42 | 125 | 25 | 46 | 125 | 32 | 46 | 110 | 8 | 46 | 110 | 0 | 125 | 125 | 0 | 110 | 119 | 4 |
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.
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