Surf Forecasts:
Morro Beach surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 27 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 850 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Morro Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Morro Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Morro Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 27) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 27th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Morro Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got a bit of a mixed bag for you coming out of Morro Beach. This is a reef setup that’s fairly exposed to a SSW swell, but honestly, we’re looking at a pretty slow start with a long stretch of weak, uninspiring conditions.
The next week or so is going to be a grind. From Thursday the 20th right through to Sunday the 23rd, the surf is tiny and poor. We’re talking small swell heights around 1 ft to 2 ft, combined energy is weak (266 to 261), and the wind is mostly cross-onshore, chopping things up. The water temp is 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so at least it’s comfortable for a paddle, but that’s about all you’ll get.
The first real glimmer of hope doesn’t show up until Monday the 24th. The morning sees a slight bump to 2 ft, and the combined energy edges up to 343, but it’s still marginal at best. Tuesday the 25th morning is a similar story: 2 ft swell with 436 combined energy, but still cross-onshore winds. It’s not until Wednesday the 26th that things start to get interesting. The afternoon sees swell hit 4 ft from the S with a period of 13 seconds, and combined energy jumps to 876. The wind goes light and onshore, so it’s a bit messy, but the energy is there.
Thursday the 27th morning is the standout if you’re an experienced surfer. The swell pushes to 5 ft from the SSW (14-second period), and combined energy is a solid 988. That’s moderate-to-strong energy. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but for those in the know, this is the best we’ve got in the near term. This is a reef break, so the longer period (14 seconds) will give it some shape, but with the cross-onshore, it’ll be a bit lumpy. It’s a session for intermediates and above.
After that, the rest of the run into early September stays pretty ho-hum. Friday the 28th has a morning swell of 4 ft and 752 combined energy, but still cross-onshore. The afternoon on the 28th has a nice long period of 19 seconds, but the swell is only 2 ft, so it’s a tease. The following days through to the 4th of September see swell bouncing between 1 ft and 3 ft, with combined energy mostly in the 200-500 range, and persistent cross-onshore winds. It’s paddle-surfing, but it’s not exactly firing.
For a standout, I’d say Thursday the 27th morning is the pick of the entire 16-day window. It’s the biggest swell, with the most energy, and it’s the closest we get to a proper session. The wind is a bit of a buzzkill, but it’s the best on offer. Don’t expect any crowds to be a problem, as the conditions are only drawing in the die-hards.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 23°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 99 | 63 | 121 | 165 | 127 | 112 | 210 | 163 | 142 | 224 | 216 | 170 | 326 | 321 | 495 | 362 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 3:50PM1.80m | 8:28AM1.36m | 5:08PM1.83m | 8:30AM1.43m | 6:10PM1.91m | 8:44AM1.49m | 6:57PM2.01m | 9:01AM1.55m | 7:37PM2.10m | 9:19AM1.61m | 8:12PM2.17m | 9:38AM1.67m | 8:46PM2.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 00:21AM0.65m | 10:10AM1.35m | 1:12AM0.53m | 11:58AM1.32m | 1:50AM0.43m | 12:53PM1.24m | 2:21AM0.34m | 1:32PM1.15m | 2:48AM0.27m | 2:07PM1.05m | 3:14AM0.24m | 2:42PM0.95m | 3:39AM0.25m | ||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:23 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 17 | W 6 | W 6 | S 13 | W 7 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 |
183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 99 | 28 | 121 | 26 | 27 | 16 | 210 | 163 | 142 | 61 | 50 | 170 | 103 | 321 | 495 | 362 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 13 | W 6 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 13 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 |
26 | 17 | 10 | 17 | 10 | 16 | 63 | 18 | 165 | 99 | 98 | 23 | 26 | 50 | 224 | 216 | 127 | 326 | 71 | 55 | 93 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 19 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 9 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
57 | 14 | 8 | 81 | 49 | 51 | 50 | 27 | 58 | 127 | 112 | 155 | 154 | 66 | 89 | 89 | 6 | 124 | 253 | 326 | 344 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 | — | — | 35 | — | — | 33 | 94 | 81 | 71 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 60 | 101 | 50 | 55 | 113 | 0 | 113 | 113 | 0 | 113 | 113 | 17 | 113 | 113 | 0 | 113 | 113 | 53 | 60 | 115 | 58 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Morro Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Morro Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Morro Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Morro Beach 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 (Morro Beach) 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 Morro Beach 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.
Morro Beach is 4 km (2 miles) from Laguna Beach. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Laguna Beach. Laguna Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











