
Surf Forecasts:
Riviera surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with 1,341 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 18 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 18s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Riviera this week:
The surf forecast for Riviera over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 18) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riviera in the next 16 days are 1.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8PM (Sat 18th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riviera over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks.
To be straight with you, the pattern is a bit of a slow-burner. We’ve got a long stretch of pretty average to poor conditions to start, with a real wait for the decent stuff. Don’t get too excited about the first week or so. There’s a big gap where the surf is just not worth paddling out for, so save your energy.
The first bit of action that’s even worth a mention is Friday the 17th, but it’s a hard pass. Tiny 2 ft swell from the SW with a cross-on breeze making it choppy. The water is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for the time of year. Saturday the 18th sees a little more size, but the morning is still a write-off with cross-on wind. The afternoon gets a bit better with a light onshore breeze, but the swell is still only 3 ft.
Sunday the 19th is more of the same – small, onshore, and not doing much. Monday the 20th actually sees a jump in size to 6 ft, but it’s still onshore and the quality is poor. The combined energy is moderate (898), but with that wind, it’s not going to be pretty. Tuesday the 21st drops back to 4 ft, still cross-on and messy. Honestly, from the 17th through to the 23rd, the conditions are just not there. It’s a long, flat, and choppy run.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Thursday the 24th. The swell is small at 2 ft, but the period jumps to 24 seconds, which is a very long period groundswell. The combined energy is moderate (1008). It’s a cross-on breeze, but that long period might set up a few lines at Riviera. It’s marginal, but it’s a change.
Now, the standout window. Saturday the 25th looks like the best bet in the whole forecast. The morning session sees a 5 ft SSW swell, with a light onshore breeze that should keep it clean. The combined energy is strong at 1388. This is a real opportunity. The swell direction is right on the money – SW is the optimum here. The afternoon holds similar size, but a light cross-on wind will put a slight crinkle on the face. Still, the morning is the pick.
Sunday the 26th is a close second, with a 3 ft to 4 ft SSW swell. The morning is clean with a light onshore, and the period is a very long 19 seconds. The energy is still strong (1193). The long period will mean some long lulls between sets, but the waves that come through will have real shape and power. That's a good thing for a point break setup, but it can be a bit straight at the beach.
The following week, from Monday the 27th through to Thursday the 30th, looks consistent but marginal. Swell stays in the 3 ft to 4 ft range, mostly onshore or light cross-on winds. The energy is moderate to strong, but the quality is just not there. It's a long stretch of ‘maybe’ surf. The period starts to drop off after the 27th, so the magic from the weekend will be gone.
In the end, the one to circle on your calendar is Saturday the 25th. The 5 ft SSW swell, the light wind, the right direction – it’s the best we’ve got. Sunday the 26th is a solid second option if you prefer a bit more period and a clean morning. For the rest of it, you’re looking at a lot of choppy, onshore, or small days. The crowds at Riviera can be a factor sometimes, so get in early for the best of it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
181 | 103 | 136 | 366 | 379 | 127 | 334 | 487 | 468 | 861 | 989 | 1341 | 578 | 474 | 474 | 334 | 325 | 316 | 281 | 421 | 421 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 12:29PM1.38m | 11:54PM1.64m | 1:12PM1.41m | 00:44AM1.39m | 1:58PM1.43m | 1:45AM1.14m | 2:48PM1.44m | 3:09AM0.93m | 3:42PM1.45m | 5:11AM0.84m | 4:40PM1.47m | 7:14AM0.88m | 5:36PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:59PM0.50m | 6:44AM-0.03m | 7:01PM0.53m | 7:19AM0.16m | 8:13PM0.55m | 7:54AM0.37m | 9:43PM0.52m | 8:31AM0.55m | 11:24PM0.42m | 9:18AM0.71m | 00:41AM0.28m | 10:30AM0.81m | 1:32AM0.15m | ||||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | WSW 7 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | SW 17 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | S 13 | S 13 |
40 | 26 | 136 | 366 | 379 | 81 | 334 | 416 | 389 | 861 | 989 | 1341 | 578 | 292 | 474 | 334 | 325 | 135 | 104 | 421 | 421 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 7 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | S 13 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | WNW 14 | SSW 20 | W 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | WSW 8 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | S 13 | W 7 | W 6 |
181 | 103 | 14 | 69 | 97 | 127 | 163 | 487 | 468 | 20 | 75 | 16 | 377 | 474 | 132 | 72 | 19 | 316 | 281 | 76 | 41 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 12 | WSW 6 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 11 | WNW 15 | WNW 15 | S 15 | WNW 14 | S 14 | SSE 14 | W 13 | WNW 4 | S 8 | S 16 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SW 26 | SW 26 |
74 | 83 | 25 | 13 | 44 | 44 | 108 | 42 | 42 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 20 | 3 | 4 | 20 | 42 | 150 | 158 | 171 | 105 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 3 | — | S 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 3 | — | — | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 63 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 85 | 81 | 68 | 69 | 86 | 38 | 81 | 89 | 0 | 86 | 89 | 13 | 81 | 89 | 9 | 89 | 89 | 0 | 86 | 89 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Riviera Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Riviera provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Riviera can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Riviera 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 (Riviera) 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 Riviera 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.
Riviera is 2 km (1 miles) from San Clemente. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in San Clemente. San Clemente has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










