Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, checking in from the coast. The next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag, but there are some moments worth keeping an eye on. The forecast starts with a long, quiet stretch, so don’t expect much action right away.

Right now, through the middle of August, it’s looking pretty flat and messy. We’ve got a weak, long-period groundswell from the SSW, but the onshore winds are hurting it. The water is running at 71°F and feels a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, which is a nice bonus for a paddle, but the surf itself is poor. The combined swell energy is moderate at best (487), and the waves are small, around 2ft. The swell period is a long 18 seconds, which usually means better shaped waves, but with the wind blowing straight on from the WSW, it’s just bumpy and weak. This pattern sticks around for days, with no real standout sessions until the tail end of the month. We’re looking at a solid gap of about 10 days with nothing but marginal to poor conditions.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the 25th of August. Tuesday morning kicks off with a bump in size – 5ft from the SSE with a moderate 15-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 1119 (strong). The wind is a gentle cross-onshore from the S, which isn’t perfect, but it’s rideable for the crew who know what they’re doing. The break is Huntington Cliffs, exposed to the swell, and the optimum direction is WSW, so this SSE swell is a bit off-angle, but the size is there. By Tuesday afternoon, the swell pushes to 6ft from the S, 15 seconds, and the energy rockets to 1405 (very strong). The wind shifts to a light onshore from the SSW, so it should be cleaner. That’s the pick of the window – a solid pulse of groundswell, but it’s over 5ft, so it’s getting a bit too big for beginners. For the experienced surfers, it’s game on. The break is fairly consistent, so you’ll get waves, but it’s often crowded, so expect company.

The 26th of August still holds. Wednesday morning sees 5ft from the S, 13 seconds, with a light onshore breeze from the SSW. Energy is still strong (1057). The period is a bit shorter, but it’s still punchy. Afternoon drops slightly to 5ft, but the energy eases a touch (993). Not a standout, but still a good session if you missed Tuesday.

Beyond that, the swell slowly fades through the 27th and 28th into the 3ft–5ft range, with a mix of onshore and cross-onshore winds. By the 29th, we’re back to 3ft and poor conditions. The 25th and 26th are definitely the highlights, but remember, this is a long-range call – it looks promising, but keep an eye on the forecasts as we get closer. For now, mark your calendar for the 25th August.

Rusty.

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