Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and I’ve got the goods on the next 16 days for Huntington Cliffs. This is a spot that’s exposed to a good WSW swell direction, and it’s a fairly consistent beginner-friendly break, though it can get crowded often. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year—over three degrees above average, so that’s a real treat for the skin.

Right now, it’s pretty quiet. Monday morning, July 27, we’ve got a solid 4ft SW swell rolling in with a very long 18-second period, and the combined energy is moderate at (767). The wind is light from the SSW, blowing onshore at 6 mph, keeping things a bit messy. The score’s not great—just a marginal call with tide issues. That’s the best we’ve got to start, but it’s not a standout. Monday afternoon drops to 3ft and the score is even worse.

Tuesday, July 28, is more of the same with 4ft SSW swell, 17-second period, and cross-onshore winds from the S at 9 mph. Choppy and uninviting. The combined energy stays moderate (811), but the quality is poor. Wednesday and Thursday look similar—smaller swell around 3ft to 5ft, cross-onshore winds, and all rated marginal or poor. The energy dips a bit, and the winds aren’t giving us clean faces.

Friday, July 31, has a slight bump: 5ft S swell with a 14-second period, and the combined energy is moderate (843). The wind is light onshore from the SW at 6 mph in the morning, but the wave comment still says marginal. It’s the best of a bad bunch for the first week, but I wouldn’t call it a standout. The water stays warm, but the surf is just not cooperating.

Then we hit a long gap. From Saturday, August 1, through to Wednesday, August 5, the swell drops off hard—2ft down to 1.0ft. The combined energy plummets to three-digit and even two-digit numbers (as low as 89). Winds are cross-onshore or onshore, and the surf is rated poor across the board. This is a dead stretch of about 5 to 6 days with nothing worth paddling out for.

Thursday, August 6, shows a tiny 1.0ft SSW swell with a very long 20-second period, but the energy is weak (169), and it’s still poor. The trend continues into Friday, August 7, with a slight lift to 2ft SSW swell, 19-second period, and moderate energy (499), but cross-onshore winds at 9 mph keep it choppy and unrideable. The scores are still zero.

Saturday, August 8, has a bit more: 3ft SSW swell, 18-second period, with light onshore winds from the SW at 6 mph. The combined energy is moderate (403), and it’s marked as marginal. This is the first hint of life in the second week. Sunday, August 9, is similar with 3ft SSW swell, 15-second period, and light onshore winds—still marginal, but it’s a slight improvement.

The run continues through to Monday, August 10, with 2ft SSW swell, 14-second period, and light cross-onshore winds. Energy is weak (204), and it’s marginal. Tuesday, August 11, has 2ft S swell, 13-second period, and light cross-onshore winds—still poor. The energy is very weak (144). Nothing here is a standout.

For a beginner spot like Huntington Cliffs, the standout is honestly the water temperature—it’s unseasonably warm at 71°, which is a nice bonus if you’re just sitting in the lineup. But for actual surf, the best on offer is Friday, July 31, with 5ft S swell and light onshore winds. It’s not clean, but it’s the biggest wave of the period. The rest is flat or marginal. Keep your expectations low, and remember, forecasts can change. Rusty out.

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