Newport Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for Newport Beach. Over the next 16 days, it’s a story of a long, quiet wait followed by a short, punchy burst of proper surf. The first week is mostly a write-off, but there’s a real standout session on the horizon if you’ve got the patience.

For the first few days, right through to the end of the first week of September, the swell is small and the wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore. We’re talking waist-high dribble at best, with combined energy readings in the low to mid hundreds, which is pretty weak. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird there. Monday the 31st of August through to Thursday the 4th of September? Honestly, not worth paddling out at Newport Beach. It’s a river break, so it’s sheltered, but that doesn’t help when the swell is tiny and the wind is messy.

The first hint of life shows up on Saturday the 5th of September. The morning sees a bit of a lift – swell around 3ft from the SSW, with a long period of 16 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to moderate. The wind is light cross-onshore, so it’s small and a bit bumpy, but it’s a step up. The score says marginal, so it’s a maybe for the keen.

Now, here’s the standout. Sunday the 6th of September is the day to circle. The swell builds to 6ft early, then 7ft in the afternoon, both from the south. The period is a solid 15 seconds, meaning proper groundswell. The combined energy is strong. The wind is the real story here – morning brings a light cross-offshore from the east, and the afternoon sees a clean offshore from the north-northeast at 15 mph. The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions” and it’s clean. This is the best on offer. For a river break like Newport Beach, that long-period groundswell can line up nicely. The swell is getting up to 7ft, so it’s a bit much for beginners, but for anyone with experience, it’s going to be fun. Crowds are often at this spot, so expect company.

Monday the 7th of September is a different story. The swell is still solid at 7ft to 8ft from the south, with strong energy, but the wind turns nasty. Morning sees a near gale from the south-southeast at 31 mph, crossing the swell and making it a mess. Afternoon is still cross-onshore and choppy. The wave comment says “poor surf conditions.” This is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session.

After that, the swell drops off quickly. Tuesday the 8th of September sees 5ft dropping to 4ft, but the wind is cross-onshore and the period drops to 10 seconds and then 8 seconds, which is short and weak. The energy plummets. From Wednesday the 9th of September right through to the end of the forecast on Tuesday the 15th of September, it’s back to small, weak, and mostly messy. Swell heights are between 1ft and 3ft, with combined energy mostly low. The wind is onshore or cross-onshore throughout. It’s a long gap of poor surf.

So, the bottom line: Newport Beach is a long wait for a brief window. Sunday the 6th of September is the real deal – clean, solid groundswell with offshore winds. Get out there early if you can. The rest of the period is mostly flat or blown out.

Rusty.

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