Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim for surfing at Huntington Cliffs. We've got a whole lot of small, onshore slop on the way, and not much to get excited about. We're looking at a long stretch of marginal to poor conditions, so don't be expecting any hero waves.

The water temp out at Huntington Cliffs (Orange County) is running about 72° and that’s a whopping 6° warmer than normal for this time of year. That is seriously unusual and a big plus if you're thinking of a paddle, even if the waves aren't playing ball.

The outlook starts off rough. The first real day to even consider is Sunday, August 9th. It’s not great, but there’s a small 3ft SSW swell with a 15-second period, and the morning wind is just a light cross-onshore breeze. It's a marginal call at best, with light wind ripples on the surface.

We then hit a real dead zone. From Monday, August 10th through Thursday, August 13th, it's mostly poor with tiny, weak swells and onshore winds. Nothing doing. The energy levels are pretty pathetic, down in the low 100s to 200s, which speaks for itself.

Things start to look a bit more interesting on Friday, August 14th, but it's still not good. The swell stays small, but the period is nice and long, around 19 seconds. The wave energy jumps up a bit to 426 in the morning, but the wind is still cross-onshore and the surf quality is poor. Saturday the 15th has a touch more size, hitting 3ft in the afternoon, but the wind is up to 12 mph and it's choppy.

For the rest of the window, from Sunday the 16th onward, it's the same story: small, weak swells, and a constant cross-onshore breeze. There's a small pulse of energy around the 16th and 17th with readings in the 400s and 500s, but with the poor winds, it’s not going to be worth the paddle. The swell direction is consistently from the SSW, which is what this spot wants, but the size just isn't there. The period stays fairly long, which is good for shape, but the lack of size and clean wind is a killer.

Honestly, this is a blank run. There are no standout days on the cards. If you're desperate, the mornings might offer the cleanest conditions, but you're still looking at tiny, weak waves. If the wind ever drops to glassy, that 3ft groundswell on August 9th or 16th might give up a few fun ones on the right tide, but it's a big "if." The longer-period swell could offer some shape at a point or reef, but Huntington Cliffs is exposed and just might be too straight.

Looking at the bigger picture, it's going to be a quiet couple of weeks. With the water this warm, it might be a better time for a swim than a surf. Forecasts can always change, but as it stands, I’d keep your board in the car and your expectations low.

Rusty, out.

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