Surf Forecasts:
Huntington Cliffs surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 25 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 17s period, SW swell with 224 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Huntington Cliffs this week:
The surf forecast for Huntington Cliffs over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s 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 Huntington Cliffs in the next 16 days are 0.6m 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 2AM. 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 (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Huntington Cliffs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, I’ve had a look at the charts for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a pretty grim run for our little stretch of coast here. We’re looking at a long stretch of small, messy, and onshore waves, so don’t get your hopes up for anything good for a while.
The first proper surf recommendation we see is for Huntington Cliffs on Wednesday, the 19th of August. The water temp is sitting at 70°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so that’s one small win. But the surf itself? It’s only 3 ft of swell coming from the SSW, with a decent 16-second period, but the wind is a cross-on from the WSW at 9 mph. The wave energy is pretty weak (365), and the conditions are poor. It’s a no-go for me.
The rest of that week and into the next is a real bummer. From Thursday the 20th right through to the end of August, the swell hovers around 1 ft to 2 ft, with periods dropping down to 11-14 seconds, and the wind is either cross-on or onshore. The wave energy is weak, sitting between 100 and 300 for most of it. The only small glimmer comes on the mornings of Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th, where the wave comment says things are marginal, but the swell is still tiny at 1 ft to 2 ft, and the wind is onshore. Just not worth paddling out for.
The first real standout, and it’s a tentative one, happens on Saturday the 29th of August. The morning shows a 3 ft swell from the SSW, with a 17-second period, and the wave energy jumps up to a moderate 568. The wind is light and onshore from the WSW, so it’s clean on the face. The wave comment says marginal, and it’s still pretty small, but it’s the best thing we’ve seen in a week and a half. The swell direction is from the SSW, which is a good angle for Huntington Cliffs, but it’s not the optimum WSW direction the spot likes best. Still, it’s the pick of the bunch.
Sunday the 30th of August morning also looks marginal, with a 4 ft swell from the SSW, a 15-second period, and moderate energy (560). The wind is light and cross-on from the SSW, so it’s a little choppy. It’s an option, but not as good as Saturday.
After that, from the 31st of August onwards, we’re back to tiny, weak, and onshore junk. Swell sizes drop to 1 ft to 3 ft, periods fall, and the wind is consistently cross-on or onshore. Nothing to get excited about.
So, to be straight with you: the only real chance at a surf in the entire 16-day window is the morning of Saturday the 29th of August. It’s a long way out, so take that forecast with a pinch of salt, but it’s our best bet. The rest of the time, it’s a board on the beach kind of situation.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Wed 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 99 | 63 | 121 | 165 | 127 | 112 | 210 | 154 | 142 | 224 | 216 | 127 | 124 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 2:38PM1.83m | 3:51PM1.80m | 8:28AM1.36m | 5:09PM1.83m | 8:31AM1.43m | 6:11PM1.91m | 8:46AM1.49m | 6:58PM2.01m | 9:02AM1.55m | 7:38PM2.11m | 9:20AM1.61m | 8:13PM2.17m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:03PM0.75m | 00:22AM0.64m | 10:11AM1.35m | 1:13AM0.53m | 11:59AM1.32m | 1:50AM0.42m | 12:54PM1.24m | 2:22AM0.33m | 1:33PM1.15m | 2:49AM0.27m | 2:09PM1.05m | 3:15AM0.24m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | W 6 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 16 | W 6 |
280 | 33 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 99 | 19 | 121 | 165 | 27 | 98 | 210 | 22 | 142 | 57 | 50 | 127 | 59 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 5 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 |
28 | 196 | 25 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 63 | 17 | 25 | 99 | 16 | 21 | 154 | 50 | 224 | 216 | 87 | 80 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 9 | SW 16 |
1 | 12 | 57 | 14 | 8 | 81 | 49 | 51 | 50 | 27 | 58 | 127 | 112 | 155 | 53 | 66 | 89 | 89 | 6 | 124 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 |
56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 34 | — | — | 22 | — | 84 | 61 | 94 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 135 | 6 | 36 | 91 | 36 | 36 | 76 | 0 | 99 | 109 | 36 | 135 | 135 | 17 | 135 | 135 | 17 | 135 | 135 | 17 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Huntington Cliffs Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Huntington Cliffs provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Huntington Cliffs can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Huntington Cliffs 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 (Huntington Cliffs) 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 Huntington Cliffs 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.
Huntington Cliffs is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of Huntington Beach. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Huntington Beach. Huntington Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











