Surf Forecasts:
56th St surf forecast from 2 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 14s period, S swell with 2,005 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 2 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 12s 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 02) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 12s 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 2.2m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 2nd Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 7ft (2.2m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 56th St over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get straight into it for your local stretch, 56th St.
Right from the get-go, it’s a bit of a flat and frustrating start. We’ve got a long wait on our hands. For the first four days, from Wednesday the 2nd right through to the end of Saturday the 5th, the surf is tiny and onshore. It’s basically a write-off. The swell is small and weak, with combined energy struggling to get out of the low hundreds (252 to 923), and the winds are all sorts of wrong – mostly cross-onshore, keeping things choppy and ugly. You’re better off leaving the board in the car.
The wait ends on Sunday, September 6th, and it’s finally worth talking about. Things flip. The south swell pushes up to about 5ft to 6ft with a nice 14-second period, and the wind goes light and cross-offshore. That’ll clean things right up. The afternoon looks even better, with that swell at 6ft and the combined energy jumping to a solid 1318 – that’s a decent push of moderate energy. It’s a Sunday, so expect some company, but this is easily the standout of the whole run.
Monday the 7th keeps the size up but the quality drops. We’re looking at 7ft south swell, which is a fair step up and getting into the solid range. The problem is the wind swings cross-onshore and the combined energy hits over 2000 (2025), which is strong, but it’ll be a bit lumpy and messy. This one’s for the experienced crew only; that size will be a handful for beginners.
From Tuesday the 8th onwards, it’s back downhill fast. The swell drops, the cross-shore and cross-onshore winds return, and combined energy numbers sink back into the low hundreds (582 to 100). We limp through the second week with tiny, weak waves and poor conditions right up to the 17th of September. Even a long-period 23-second pulse on the 17th only delivers about 1ft with onshore winds – a real tease.
Bottom line: Sunday, September 6th is the day. The afternoon window at 56th St with that 6ft south swell and clean, light winds is your best and only real chance for a good session in this whole 16-day block.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 17 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 12 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
65 | 132 | 142 | 193 | 115 | 327 | 497 | 448 | 469 | 532 | 494 | 627 | 581 | 893 | 1315 | 1402 | 2005 | 1813 | 1164 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 00:58AM1.01m | 12:48PM1.63m | 2:46AM0.86m | 1:46PM1.60m | 3:11PM1.59m | 7:16AM1.02m | 4:44PM1.64m | 7:42AM1.14m | 6:00PM1.74m | 8:09AM1.25m | 6:59PM1.84m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:07AM0.59m | 8:31PM0.28m | 6:32AM0.75m | 10:15PM0.23m | 11:46PM0.09m | 10:15AM0.96m | 00:48AM-0.05m | 12:00PM0.86m | 1:35AM-0.16m | 1:04PM0.70m | 2:15AM-0.22m | ||||||||
— | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 3 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
Feels °C | 20 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 12 |
30 | 25 | 142 | 63 | 48 | 327 | 497 | 448 | 469 | 487 | 494 | 627 | 581 | 893 | 1315 | 1402 | 2005 | 1813 | 1164 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSE 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WSW 10 | W 12 | WSW 11 | W 11 | — | — |
47 | 95 | 127 | 147 | 98 | 23 | 33 | 33 | 284 | 532 | 387 | 392 | 348 | 19 | 3 | 11 | 20 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 16 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 20 | — | — | — | — | — |
65 | 132 | 35 | 193 | 115 | 56 | 17 | 196 | 13 | 7 | 42 | 19 | 29 | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | 16 | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 37 | 110 | 30 | 46 | 87 | 18 | 46 | 110 | 0 | 57 | 110 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 109 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.











