Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, let’s get into it. The window ahead is a tough one to read. We’re staring down a long, quiet stretch for Huntington Cliffs with very little to get amped about. The swell is running small and a cross-onshore breeze is a regular visitor, so you’ll have to pick your moments carefully and keep expectations low. There’s a gap right at the start with basically nothing worth jumping for.

First Surf Window: Sunday, August 10th – Monday, August 11th
The outlook kicks off on Sunday morning, August 10th with small, 3 ft swell out of the SSW, with a very long period of 15 seconds. The wind is light and onshore though, coming from the SW at 6 mph. This keeps conditions marginal at best – it’s not a no-go, but you won’t be writing home about it. Wave energy is weak (260). The same goes for Monday morning, August 11th: tiny 2 ft swell from the SSW, period 14 seconds, and still a light onshore breeze. It’s rideable for a beginner, but nothing to set the alarm for.

Mid-Week State: Tuesday, August 12th – Thursday, August 14th
Things drop off fast after that. Tuesday and Wednesday are poor with tiny surf in the 2 ft range and onshore winds. Honestly, it’s a write-off.

Potential Lift into the End of Week: Friday, August 15th
Here we get a little glimmer. Friday morning, August 15th brings a swell of just 2 ft from the SSW, but the period stretches out to 19 seconds – real groundswell energy. The wind goes light and cross-onshore from the west at 3 mph, and the wave energy bumps up to moderate (403). That long period suggests potential for some shape, but the size is miniscule. This spot is exposed to the swell and with a long-period groundswell like this, it’s better for the reefs and points than a beach break, so the Cliffs might not do it justice. Still, it’s the best we’ve seen in days.

Saturday, August 16th – The Curious Blip
Saturday morning, August 16th sees the swell kick up slightly to 4 ft from the SW at 16 seconds period. That gives us moderate energy (623) which is the highest of the whole forecast. But there’s a problem: the wind is cross-onshore from the W at 6 mph, producing a light cross-onshore bump. The water temp is about average for the time of year. It’s marginal, but if you are desperate, this is the one morning with some size. Afternoon gets messy with stronger wind.

The Rest of the Run: Sunday, August 17th – Monday, August 24th
From Sunday onward, it’s back to poor or marginal conditions. The swell stays small, 2 ft to 3 ft, with cross-onshore winds dominating the afternoons. There are occasional moments with clean skies and light onshore breezes (Sunday August 23rd morning has a 1 ft swell at 20 seconds which is interesting for period but too tiny to surf). Honestly, this is a challenging outlook.

The Call
Overall, with the weak combined swell energy, persistent onshore winds, and small wave heights, Huntington Cliffs is not offering much for the intermediate or advanced surfer during this period. The only real standout is Saturday morning, August 16th, for the brief bump in size (4 ft from the SW), but the wind will keep it bumpy. For the rest, it’s a beginner’s playground or a waiting game.

Stay patient, keep an eye on those wind shifts, and remember: forecasts can turn around.

Rusty

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