
Surf Forecasts:
56th St surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 14s period, S swell with 1,317 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 1.8m 14s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sun 6th Sep) | 6ft (1.8m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 56th St over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here.
Look, I’ve been staring at the charts for 56th St and the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, mostly leaning towards the bad side. The water is a balmy 76°, which is almost 9° warmer than the long-term average – that’s seriously unusual, like stepping into a warm bath. But the waves? They’re mostly missing.
We start off with a few days of junk – tiny, weak swell with cross-onshore winds making it a complete mess. There’s a pulse of energy that arrives on Sunday morning, September 6th. The swell jumps to 5ft from the south with a 14-second period, and the wind goes glassy. That’s the one real highlight. The combined energy is 1065, which is solid, but it’s a short-lived window. The afternoon it bumps up to 6ft, but the wind swings onshore and chops it up. Monday morning holds the size at 6ft with a light cross-shore breeze, but it’s still a bit rough. So that’s your window – Sunday morning and Monday morning are the best bets if you’re keen, but it’s not going to be classic. The swell direction is south-southwest, which is a little off the ideal, but it’s rideable.
After that, the bottom falls out again. From Monday afternoon onwards, the swell fades fast, the wind stays onshore, and the energy drops back into the low hundreds. The second week, from September 13th onward, is flat. Swells drop below 2ft and the periods get long and inconsistent. There is a quick period bump around September 17th and 18th, but there’s no size to it at all.
The only time things look even remotely interesting is that Sunday and Monday morning. The rest is a blank run. This spot is usually more consistent than this, so I’d keep it on the radar, but right now, I wouldn’t be waxing up unless you’re desperate. Those long-period swells might be okay for a reef, but 56th St is a beach break, and that long period will likely make it close out and turn into a mess. Save your energy.
That’s all from me.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 24°C on Sat afternoon, min 20°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 26°C on Mon afternoon, min 22°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 15 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 16 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
115 | 327 | 497 | 498 | 559 | 525 | 382 | 494 | 932 | 1042 | 1175 | 1090 | 1206 | 1139 | 975 | 710 | 633 | 501 | 226 | 181 | 298 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 1:46PM1.60m | 3:11PM1.59m | 7:16AM1.02m | 4:44PM1.64m | 7:42AM1.14m | 6:00PM1.74m | 8:09AM1.25m | 6:59PM1.84m | 8:36AM1.37m | 7:50PM1.90m | 9:03AM1.47m | 8:35PM1.89m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:55PM0.53m | 2:51AM-0.22m | 2:40PM0.37m | 3:23AM-0.16m | |||||||||
6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 7:15 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:08 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 |
32 | 327 | 497 | 498 | 559 | 525 | 382 | 494 | 932 | 1042 | 1175 | 1090 | 1206 | 1139 | 975 | 710 | 633 | 501 | 226 | 163 | 125 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSW 16 | SW 11 | W 6 | W 12 | — | W 5 | WSW 11 | — | W 5 | SW 18 | W 5 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | W 6 |
98 | 23 | 43 | 23 | 165 | 232 | 277 | 392 | 30 | 7 | 3 | — | 9 | 11 | — | 5 | 12 | 21 | 130 | 181 | 31 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SSE 14 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 13 | SW 10 | SW 10 | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | SSW 21 | SW 16 | W 5 | SSW 12 | SW 17 |
115 | 56 | 17 | 108 | 13 | 10 | 49 | 49 | 3 | 16 | 15 | — | — | — | — | 49 | 42 | 130 | 14 | 30 | 298 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | WNW 5 | — | W 5 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — | — | 8 | — | — | 8 | 39 | — | 21 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 46 | 125 | 30 | 46 | 975 | 0 | 47 | 125 | 0 | 0 | 109 | 7 | 120 | 110 | 30 | 110 | 114 | 26 | 110 | 110 | 0 |
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.










