Surf Forecasts:
Huntington Cliffs surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 310 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Huntington Cliffs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what Huntington Cliffs has in store for us over the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the 16-day window starts off pretty flat and the pattern is a long, slow grind. We've got a lot of small, weak swell and onshore winds making a mess of things for the first week. The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing to write home about.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn't come until Wednesday, August 19th. The morning session is the standout of the entire period. We're looking at a clean 3ft SSW groundswell with a long 15-second period, and the wind is glassy – dead calm. That's the kind of morning you set the alarm for. The combined swell energy is weak (325), but for this spot, that small, clean, glassy window is the best we'll see. It's a beginner-friendly wave, so it's a good time for a learner to get out, but the crowds are often there, so expect company.
The rest of the outlook is a real mixed bag of small, weak swells and poor wind. The swell stays tiny, bouncing between 1ft and 2ft, with periods that are all over the place. The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, chopping up whatever small waves there are. There are a few mornings with marginal conditions, like Saturday, August 23rd, where a 1ft SW swell with a very long 19-second period shows up, but the wind is onshore, so it's a tough call. That long period would make paddling out easier, but at a spot like this, it might break too straight.
Into the second week, the pattern doesn't change much. The energy starts to creep up a little, and by the end of the month we're seeing 3ft to 3ft SSW swells, but the wind is still a problem. The afternoon of Monday, August 31st, has a 3ft SSW swell (15-second period) with a moderate combined energy (522), but it's crossed up by a cross-onshore wind. The best chance in the second week might be Friday, August 28th, in the afternoon, where a 2ft SSW swell meets a light cross-offshore wind from the ENE, leaving the surf clean. It's a marginal call, but it's the cleanest option in a messy period.
Honestly, for the majority of this 16-day stretch, the small, choppy conditions with onshore wind make it more interesting for kite surfing than getting a traditional paddle board out. Don't hold your breath for a big swell, but keep an eye on the glassy Wednesday morning and that late Friday afternoon.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
268 | 268 | 261 | 203 | 184 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 120 | 165 | 127 | 112 | 210 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:05PM1.93m | 1:41AM1.37m | 1:46PM1.88m | 3:31AM1.21m | 2:38PM1.83m | 3:51PM1.80m | 8:28AM1.36m | 5:09PM1.83m | 8:31AM1.43m | 6:11PM1.91m | 8:46AM1.49m | 6:58PM2.01m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:56PM0.79m | 6:51AM0.96m | 9:21PM0.80m | 7:07AM1.13m | 11:03PM0.75m | 00:22AM0.64m | 10:11AM1.35m | 1:13AM0.53m | 11:59AM1.32m | 1:50AM0.42m | 12:54PM1.24m | 2:22AM0.33m | |||||||||
6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
268 | 268 | 47 | 41 | 38 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 120 | 165 | 99 | 98 | 210 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 5 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
25 | 32 | 261 | 203 | 184 | 36 | 38 | 19 | 9 | 16 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 51 | 50 | 17 | 17 | 127 | 112 | 155 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 10 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WSW 5 |
8 | 8 | 2 | 67 | 67 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 57 | 14 | 8 | 81 | 50 | 49 | 17 | 55 | 58 | 86 | 50 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | 52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 135 | 135 | 36 | 36 | 76 | 11 | 36 | 135 | 0 | 36 | 99 | 36 | 36 | 99 | 24 | 36 | 76 | 0 | 99 | 135 | 0 |
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.











