Huntington Cliffs Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for Huntington Cliffs. I gotta be straight with you – this is a bit of a slow burner. We’ve got a lot of small, marginal days ahead, so don’t expect any fireworks, but there are a couple of windows where the stars might align.

The water is sitting at 69°F right now, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year – feels good, but it’s the size that’s the issue. We’re kicking off on Thursday, July 16th, with pretty much nothing. Tiny 1ft swell from the SW, with a long 16-second period, but that cross-on S wind at 9 mph is making a mess of it. Wave energy is weak (128). It’s a no-go for a paddle.

Friday, July 17th, is more of the same – 1ft, cross-on, choppy. Don’t even bother. Saturday the 18th has a whisper of an increase to 2ft, but the wind is still cross-on. The energy bumps up a bit (301), but it’s still just a marginal clean-up. You might get a tiny, rippable one if you’re desperate.

Now, Sunday the 19th is where we finally see a pulse. The swell builds to 4ft from the S, with a 14-second period, and the wind swings onshore but light from the SSW at 6 mph. The energy jumps to 909, which is moderate. This is the first real chance for a wave, but it’s still only a marginal score for tide conditions. The S direction isn’t the optimum WSW for this spot, so it’ll be a bit fat and soft. It’s a beginner-friendly size, but don’t expect perfection.

Monday the 20th holds similar 4ft from the S, but the wind stays light and cross-on. It’s rideable, but that’s about it. Tuesday the 21st drops back to 3ft.

The real standout, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Thursday the 24th of July. We’ve got a bigger 5ft swell from the S, with a solid 13-second period. The combined energy hits 1262 – that’s strong. The wind is light from the SSW, so it’s cross-on but with only small wind ripples. This is the biggest swell of the window. At 5ft, it’s right at the top end for beginners, so be careful, but for the rest of us, it’s the best size on offer. Keep in mind the period is 13 seconds, so it’s a groundswell that could be a bit straight at this beach break, but with the light wind, it’s your best shot.

After that, the weekend of the 25th and 26th drops back to 3ft - 3ft, but the period stretches out to 19-21 seconds. That’s very long period, which means it’ll be super clean and walled up, but it might break too straight for a beach break. It’s a tricky one.

The final week from July 27th to the 31st stays small, with 3ft to 4ft, mostly onshore or cross-on. The 30th and 31st see a slight drop in energy back to the 300-400 range. Nothing to write home about.

So, the true best on offer is the morning of Thursday, July 24th. That 5ft S swell with light wind is your best bet for a proper session. Sunday the 19th is a solid second option for a smaller, more manageable wave. The rest of the time, you’re chasing scraps. Keep your eyes open, though – it’s been a quiet stretch, and forecasts can change.

Rusty, signing off.

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