Newport Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about Newport Beach. The forecast is a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a long-period groundswell arriving, but for most of the run, the wind is just not playing ball. The water temp is about average for this time of year. Let’s break it down.

We’re looking at a solid run of waves starting Sunday the 26th of July, with a 3ft SSW swell rolling in. The period is a massive 19 seconds, which is a proper groundswell with serious energy (725). That’s a lot of pulse, but the catch is the wind. It’s a cross-on 6 mph breeze, which is going to mess with the surface. The morning session is a bit of a gamble; the wave comment is "marginal," and the score is a 1. It’s not a total write-off, but it’s not the clean, glassy perfection we chase. The afternoon gets worse.

Monday the 27th sees a touch more size, with 4ft SW swell, still a long 18-second period. The energy is up (781), but the wind stays light cross-on from the S at 6 mph. The comment is "poor surf conditions" with a 0 score. It’s frustrating because the swell is there, but the wind is just costing us.

Tuesday the 28th is a similar story. The swell picks up to 4ft from the SSW, period drops a touch to 17 seconds, but we’ve got a lot of energy (878). The wind is still cross-on from the S at 6 mph. The conditions are poor.

Wednesday the 29th, the swell drops back to 3ft, but the period is still decent at 16 seconds. The energy is moderate (713). The wind gets a bit stronger, 9 mph from the S, making it cross-on and choppy. Avoid.

Thursday the 30th, the swell bumps up to 5ft from the S, period dropping to 14 seconds. The energy is moderate (833). The morning is "marginal" with a score of 1, but the wind is a light cross-on 6 mph. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but still not great.

Now, Friday the 31st of July is the one to watch. We get a 5ft S swell, period is 14 seconds, and the combined energy is a solid 1027. That’s a strong, punchy swell. The wind is onshore at 6 mph from the WSW in the morning. The wave comment is "marginal," but it’s the highest score of the whole run at a 2. For a river break, a 5ft S swell with that much energy is going to push some proper wedges. The wind is light, so it might clean up. It’s the best bet, but it’s still a gamble. The afternoon is a write-off with a 9 mph cross-on.

After that, the swell drops dramatically. Saturday the 1st of August has 5ft, but the period plummets to 12 seconds. The energy is weak (593). The wind is onshore. It’s poor.

From Sunday the 2nd of August onwards, we’re looking at a long flat spell. The swell drops to 2ft and then to 1ft for the rest of the run. The energy is weak, often under 200. The wind is light, but there’s no power. There’s a gap of about 8 days with no real surf to speak of.

So, the honest truth is, there’s not a true standout in this whole 16-day window. The best on offer is the Friday morning session on the 31st of July. The swell is there, the energy is strong, and the wind is light. It’s a "marginal" call, but it’s the only chance for a half-decent paddle. If you’re desperate, that’s the time. For the rest of it, it’s a frustrating run of decent swell getting trashed by the wind. When the swell drops, it’s a total blank. Keep an eye on the forecasts, things can change.

Rusty.

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