Newport Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be honest, this outlook is a tough one for the region. We’ve got a 16-day window staring at us, but there’s barely a wave worth paddling for. The first recommendation doesn’t show up until weeks away, so we’re looking at a long, flat gap right through the start.

The only spot on the cards is Newport Beach (river). The water is sitting at 73°F, which is a solid 7°F warmer than usual for this time of year – that’s pretty unusual, like stepping into a bath. But the swell situation is a real letdown. For the first stretch from Monday 3rd August right through to Sunday 16th August, it’s all “poor surf conditions” with tiny heights around 1ft to 3ft, mostly from the SSW or SW. The periods are long, between 13 and 19 seconds, which would normally be exciting groundswell, but there’s just no size to back it up. The combined energy figures are weak to moderate, mostly in the 81 to 460 range, but they don’t translate into anything rideable. The winds are often onshore or cross-onshore, but light, so it’s not messy – just flat.

The real teasing moment comes on Monday 17th August afternoon. The swell jumps to 4ft from the west, but with a shockingly short period of 7 seconds – that’s windslop, not groundswell. The combined energy hits 457, which is moderate, but the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast.” The cross-onshore wind from the SSW at 10 km/h won’t help. This is a beach-and-river setup, and with that short period, it’s looking more like a session for kite surfers than paddle surfers. Beginners might manage the 4ft, but it’s not exactly quality.

The only blip of a recommendation is Saturday 15th August morning, where the swell hits 3ft from the SSW at 16 seconds, with a combined energy of 460 and a light cross-onshore breeze. The comment says “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions” and it gets a score of 1 out of 10. That’s the best we’ve got, but it’s still a long way from good. The break is a river, so that long period might actually line up okay, but it’s inconsistent and rarely breaks properly. Crowds are “often” an issue here, so expect company if you bother.

From Tuesday 18th August, it drops back to tiny 1ft to 2ft and poor conditions. Honestly, there’s no standout in this 16-day run. The only thing close to a highlight is that Saturday 15th morning, but even that’s a stretch. It’s a blank run, and for this area, that’s not unusual when the swell just doesn’t show. Keep an eye on the forecasts, because it tends not to stay this poor forever.

Rusty.

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