
Surf Forecasts:
Huntington Cliffs surf forecast from 19 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 25 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 21s period, SSW swell with 799 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 12s 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 Monday (Jul 20) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. 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 0.9m 21s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 25) at 5AM. 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+) | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 4ft (1.2m) 12s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 25th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 21s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Huntington Cliffs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's talk about what we've got lined up for the next couple of weeks around Huntington Cliffs.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the surf is going to be a bit of a struggle for the next week and a half. The pattern is mostly small and pretty messy, with onshore winds messing up what little energy we have. This stretch is more about enjoying a paddle than catching any real gems.
We start off on Sunday, July 19th, with a tiny 0.9m (3 ft) swell from the S, but the wind is onshore and it's not looking clean. The water is a toasty 70°, and that's a solid 4° warmer than normal for this time of year, so you can probably leave the steamer at home.
That marginal, small stuff bleeds right into the next week. Monday the 20th through to Thursday the 24th is just poor or marginal conditions day after day. We're seeing very small swell, mostly under 1m (3 ft), and the wind is consistently onshore or cross-onshore. There's no standout window here for clean waves at all. The combined energy stays in the moderate range, but the short period and bad wind make it a real grind.
Friday morning, the 24th, does show a longer period swell arriving at 0.6m (2 ft) from the SW with a 24-second period, giving it moderate energy. But it's still cross-onshore and choppy, so it's another marginal call. The weekend of the 25th and 26th stays in that same frustrating pattern – light wind but onshore, with swell around 0.8-0.9m (3-3 ft).
We finally see some pulse of energy pick up from Monday the 27th through Wednesday the 29th, with the combined energy jumping into a strong range. Swell from the SW around 1.0-1.1m (3-4 ft) with 16-19 second periods is promising for shape, but the wind remains onshore, so it's going to be bumpy and not the great session we're hoping for. The energy is there, but the surface will be lumpy.
Then there's a bit of a drop-off again on Thursday the 30th with onshore wind and poor surf.
Now here's the standout that’s worth waiting for. Mark your calendars for Friday, August 1st. We get a pulse of stronger swell. Friday morning the 31st of July sees 1.6m (5 ft) from the S with a 16-second period and light onshore wind. The energy jumps to very strong. By the afternoon, it's up to 2.0m (7 ft) from the S with a 16-second period and very strong energy – that is very strong for here. Saturday the 1st of August keeps it going with 2-1.7m (5-6 ft) from the S. This is legit bigger swell, and while the wind is onshore, it's light. For a spot like Huntington Cliffs, which is an exposed beach, a 16-second groundswell from the south with this much energy is the best bet of the whole run. This is more of a solid intermediate-to-expert window, especially on Friday afternoon when it's pushing 2.0m (7 ft). The tide will be a factor, so pick your time.
After that spike, it fades fast into tiny, poor conditions through Sunday the 2nd and Monday the 3rd of August, with the energy dropping back to weak levels.
So, bottom line: the next 10 days or so are slim pickings. The one real standout to get excited about is that strong S swell arriving on Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August. It's a promising window, but being so far out, take the forecast with a grain of salt. For now, sit tight and wait for that pulse.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon afternoon, min 20°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Wed morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | |||||||||||||||
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) | S 13 | SW 17 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 24 | SW 24 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 21 | SSW 20 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
277 | 350 | 411 | 308 | 258 | 298 | 397 | 358 | 439 | 334 | 325 | 257 | 163 | 199 | 184 | 444 | 271 | 467 | 584 | 450 | 664 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:19PM1.87m | 2:08AM1.48m | 3:06PM1.88m | 3:43AM1.29m | 3:57PM1.89m | 5:55AM1.24m | 4:51PM1.91m | 7:41AM1.30m | 5:44PM1.95m | 8:34AM1.38m | 6:33PM2.01m | 9:06AM1.44m | 7:16PM2.08m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:41PM0.94m | 8:08AM0.79m | 10:11PM0.88m | 8:46AM0.98m | 11:39PM0.76m | 9:36AM1.13m | 00:46AM0.63m | 10:49AM1.23m | 1:35AM0.50m | 12:02PM1.26m | 2:14AM0.39m | 12:58PM1.24m | 2:48AM0.30m | ||||||||
5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | S 11 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | S 12 | W 6 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 |
277 | 287 | 411 | 308 | 146 | 298 | 397 | 358 | 439 | 334 | 325 | 51 | 42 | 199 | 64 | 236 | 251 | 232 | 244 | 248 | 298 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 17 | WSW 5 | W 5 | SW 16 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 12 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 21 | SSW 20 |
235 | 350 | 4 | 8 | 258 | 96 | 64 | 40 | 21 | 24 | 19 | 257 | 163 | 156 | 184 | 38 | 17 | 467 | 584 | 450 | 664 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 15 | SSE 14 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | W 5 | W 5 | S 8 | S 8 | SSE 12 | S 13 | S 13 | SW 26 | SSW 13 | SW 24 | SW 24 | W 5 | W 6 | S 12 | W 6 |
10 | 9 | 17 | 20 | 54 | 84 | 14 | 9 | 35 | 10 | 27 | 81 | 123 | 105 | 114 | 444 | 271 | 15 | 28 | 11 | 37 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | WNW 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
— | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 20 | — | — | 14 | — | — | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | 16 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 36 | 135 | 0 | 36 | 135 | 36 | 36 | 91 | 36 | 36 | 104 | 34 | 99 | 135 | 36 | 36 | 135 | 36 | 27 | 135 | 36 |
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.










