Surf Forecasts:
56th St surf forecast from 19 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 8AM (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, 5AM (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 5AM. 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 Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (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 folks, Rusty here. Let's take a long, hard look at what's cookin' at 56th St over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it's a tough stretch. We've got a long, drawn-out period of small, poor-quality surf ahead. The first recommendation doesn't pop up until the end of the month, so we're looking at a dry spell from now all the way through to the 28th of August. That's a solid week and a half with nothing worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3 ft, and the wind is cross-on or onshore for almost the entire run, just chopping everything up. The water is a very warm 71 °F, which is much warmer than normal for the time of year, but that's about the only bright spot.
The first real glimmer of hope shows up on Saturday morning, the 29th of August. We've got a modest 3 ft swell pushing in from the SSW with a long 17-second period. That long period groundswell will have some decent energy (614) behind it, and with a light onshore wind from the south, it might be just about rideable. It's still only a marginal call, and the break is sheltered, so that SSW direction might not wrap in perfectly. This is the only thing on the calendar that even sniffs a recommendation.
After that, it's right back into the same pattern of small, cross-onshore slop through the end of August and into the start of September. The swell ticks up a touch to 3 ft on the 30th, but the wind is still cross-on, and the quality is still poor. The morning of the 2nd of September shows another flicker of life with 2 ft and a very long 17-second period, but with no real quality to back it up.
For a spot that's usually very consistent, this is a shocker of a run. If you are absolutely desperate, the 29th morning is your only real shot, but don't expect much. Otherwise, save the wax and wait for a change in the forecast.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 23°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | ||||||||||||||
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 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 | ||||||||||||||||||||
181 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 121 | 165 | 127 | 112 | 210 | 154 | 142 | 224 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 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 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
30 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 19 | 121 | 165 | 99 | 98 | 210 | 15 | 15 | 36 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 |
181 | 37 | 41 | 27 | 15 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 63 | 12 | 9 | 10 | 112 | 155 | 154 | 142 | 224 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | W 6 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | S 13 |
66 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 57 | 14 | 8 | 81 | 50 | 51 | 42 | 27 | 58 | 127 | 9 | 12 | 53 | 50 | 126 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 125 | 7 | 37 | 164 | 25 | 46 | 125 | 37 | 46 | 110 | 0 | 57 | 125 | 30 | 46 | 158 | 0 | 57 | 125 | 36 |
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.











