Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a look at what’s coming up for Huntington Cliffs over the next couple of weeks. I gotta be straight with you—this isn’t the kind of forecast that gets me running for the board bag first thing. We’ve got a long stretch ahead with some energy, but the winds and conditions are going to make it a bit of a battle to find anything truly clean.

We’re looking at a period starting right now. The water’s a balmy 70°, which is *much warmer* than what we’d usually expect for this time of year—a solid 4° above normal. That’s a nice bonus if you’re heading out without a wetsuit.

Alright, for the first week, through to the 30th of July, it’s a bit of a grind. The swell sticks around from the SSW and SW mostly, but nothing is really firing. The combined wave energy is moderate—hitting numbers like 464 and up to 764 (moderate energy) at times—but it’s the wind that’s the letdown. We’ve got almost constant cross-onshore breezes and a fair bit of chop. Tuesday morning the 21st has a 4ft SSW swell with a long period (16 seconds) and light offshore wind, which *sounds* good, but the forecast says it’s marginal with questionable tide conditions. That groundswell might line up okay on the right tide, but it’s not a sure thing. For the rest of that week, you’re mostly looking at waist-high, bumpy surf. Not much to get excited about.

Now, we get to the end of the month and the start of August, and things get a bit more interesting. On Friday, the 31st of July, the afternoon picks up a 5ft swell from the south with a period of 15 seconds. The combined energy jumps up to 1595 (strong wave energy). With that kind of size, it’s pushing into intermediate territory—too much for beginners for sure. The wind forecast shows it going *onshore*, so we’re hoping for a clean window. That’s the biggest pulse of the run so far.

Then, Saturday the 1st of August is where I’d point you. The morning shows a 5ft S swell with a period of 13 seconds. The combined energy is still chunky at 1239 (strong wave energy). The wind is light from the south, so only a light cross-onshore with small ripples. That’s the closest we get to clean, rideable conditions on a decent sized-swell. It’s still a beach break, so that 13-second period might make it a little tricky, but it’s the standout option in this forecast. If you’re an experienced surfer, that’s your window.

After that, by Sunday the 2nd, it drops off quickly. Swell fades to around 3ft and the energy plummets to 391 (weak to moderate). The rest of the second week looks pretty lackluster with onshore winds and small, weak waves through to the 4th of August.

All in all, keep your expectations low for the first week. The best chance for a proper surf is Saturday morning on the 1st of August, where the size and wind come together best. The break itself is exposed and can get crowded often, so expect company if that swell shows. This is Rusty, signing off.

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