Newport-South Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s cooking for Newport-South Beach over the next couple of weeks. I’ll be honest: it’s a rough outlook for a while. The first real chance at anything surfable doesn’t show up until Thursday, July 11th, and even then it’s only marginal. Before that, we’ve got a solid gap of nothing worthwhile from now until the 11th, so don’t bother waxing up yet.

The main issue is the wind. For days on end, it’s coming from the NNW and NW, blowing cross-onshore, which is just chopping everything up. The swell is there, but it’s a messy, weak story. The combined energy is moderate at best, sitting around 500–600 (moderate wave energy), but the quality is poor. The water is absolutely freezing, too – 50°F, which is a massive 8°F colder than usual for this time of year. That’s very unusual, so bring a thick hood and gloves.

The first break of note is Newport-South Beach itself. It’s a beginner spot, inconsistent, and it’s exposed to the swell. If you’re a learner, you might be tempted by the 4ft to 5ft swell on Saturday, July 11th, from the WNW with a period of 10 seconds, but the cross-onshore wind from the WSW and NW ruins it. It’s marginal, and the crowds are sometimes there, so you might get a few closeouts.

Honestly, the best on offer is a tough call. If I had to pick a standout, it would be very late in the window, around Thursday, July 23rd. The swell picks up to 7ft from the NW, with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is strong at 910 (strong wave energy). The wind is cross-shore, which is better than the usual cross-onshore, but at 7ft, it’s getting into expert territory – too big for beginners. The water is still cold, and the consistency is fairly consistent, but the crowds are sometimes an issue. For a late-week option, it’s the best of a bad bunch, but it’s not a classic.

Earlier on, Saturday, July 18th, there’s a glimmer with 3ft from the WNW, period 16 seconds, and a light cross-onshore breeze. The combined energy is 660 (moderate), and the longer period (16 seconds) means it’s a groundswell, which can give better shape but long waits between sets. It’s marginal, but the light wind makes it the cleanest option in the first week. Still, it’s nothing to write home about.

For the rest of the period, from July 11th to July 24th, it’s a slog of cross-onshore, poor surf conditions, and moderate breezes. The few marginal sessions might be worth a paddle if you’re desperate, but don’t expect any barrels. If the wind goes more offshore, we could see a change, but the forecasts are what they are.

Signing off, Rusty.

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