
Surf Forecasts:
56th St surf forecast from 8 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 17s period, SW swell with 414 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 9 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 10s 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 (Sep 09) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s is also forecast. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 8AM. 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+) | 2AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Wed 9th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 56th St over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way.
Honestly, it’s a pretty frustrating picture for the next couple of weeks. The swell is just not lining up with the wind. We’ve got some pulses of energy, but the conditions are making it near impossible to get a clean wave. The water is sitting at 74°, which is a massive 6° warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s a real standout, the ocean feels like a bath.
We start off on Monday, September 7th with a bit of size; a 5ft SSW swell, but the 12 mph W wind is cross, so it’s choppy and messy. The combined energy is moderate at 797 but the wave comment says it all – “poor surf conditions.” Not worth paddling out.
Tuesday the 8th has a chance in the morning. The swell eases to 3ft from the SSW, but the W wind drops to a light 6 mph and it’s cross-shore. Combined energy is 441. The report calls it “marginal,” and with small crossing wind ripples, it’s not going to be clean, but it’s the best we’ll see for a while. If you’re desperate, you could have a splash.
From Tuesday afternoon onwards, it’s a long, grim stretch. Through Wednesday, Thursday, and all the way into the weekend, we get tiny swell, often under 2ft, and the wind keeps shifting cross-onshore or onshore. The combined energy drops into the 100s and 200s, which is weak. The only break we’ve got is 56th St (Virginia Beach), and it’s sheltered from the SW, so it needs a good window that just isn’t opening.
We get a slight tickle around September 18th. That Friday morning sees a 2ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period, and light W wind going cross-shore. The combined energy jumps to 517, which is moderate, but the report still says “marginal surf forecast.” That long period will make the waves very straight at this beach break – better for a point or reef, which we don’t have. Not a sure thing.
The same pattern holds for the 20th and 21st: a bit more energy (combined energy up to 551 on the 21st) but with onshore or onshore-crossover winds. It’s just not coming together for clean, rideable surf.
So, the honest truth: there are no true standouts in this 16-day window. The best bet is that Tuesday morning, September 8th, for a small, marginal wave if you’re really keen. Everything else is a write-off. A blank run like this can happen when the wind and swell just refuse to cooperate. Maybe the long-range models will shift, but for now, take a break.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 31°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Thu afternoon, min 20°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | W 8 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
742 | 280 | 195 | 180 | 130 | 127 | 219 | 295 | 414 | 371 | 358 | 349 | 262 | 217 | 169 | 136 | 133 | 89 | 68 | 129 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:59PM1.84m | 8:36AM1.37m | 7:50PM1.90m | 9:03AM1.47m | 8:35PM1.89m | 9:31AM1.57m | 9:18PM1.81m | 9:59AM1.64m | 10:00PM1.68m | 10:26AM1.68m | 10:42PM1.51m | 10:53AM1.68m | 11:25PM1.32m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:15AM-0.22m | 1:55PM0.53m | 2:51AM-0.22m | 2:40PM0.37m | 3:23AM-0.16m | 3:23PM0.25m | 3:53AM-0.06m | 4:06PM0.17m | 4:21AM0.09m | 4:48PM0.14m | 4:47AM0.26m | 5:31PM0.15m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | |
7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:00 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 29 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 31 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 |
Feels °C | 29 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 28 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | S 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 |
742 | 238 | 195 | 180 | 105 | 44 | 219 | 295 | 414 | 371 | 358 | 349 | 262 | 74 | 72 | 56 | 83 | 71 | 38 | 122 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 8 | W 5 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 |
36 | 280 | 163 | 154 | 98 | 98 | 39 | 12 | 16 | 15 | 30 | 31 | 28 | 217 | 169 | 136 | 133 | 89 | 68 | 44 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 9 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSE 8 | WSW 14 | WSW 13 | S 8 | SW 19 | W 11 | SW 19 |
3 | 51 | 80 | 81 | 130 | 127 | 87 | 73 | 47 | 46 | 23 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 39 | 35 | 6 | 59 | 20 | 129 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 4 | W 4 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | SE 3 | — | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
16 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 11 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 125 | 7 | 30 | 109 | 0 | 7 | 167 | 46 | 46 | 42 | 46 | 46 | 91 | 46 | 46 | 110 | 46 | 46 | 196 | 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.










