Riviera Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.41° N 117.61° W

Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 pm 11 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Riviera sea temperature is
23.5° C
3.8° 

Riviera surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Riviera surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 17s period, SSW swell with 807 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 12 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 12) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Riviera in the next 16 days are 1.2m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 2AM (Wed 12th Aug)2.5ft (0.7m) 18s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 13th Aug)3ft (0.9m) 16s
Most Powerful 2AM (Sat 15th Aug)4ft (1.2m) 17s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riviera over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s cut through the noise and get down to what we’ve got for the next couple of weeks.

To be honest, straight out of the gate, there’s nothing to get excited about. The whole forecast period is a real struggle for quality surf. The swell is there, but it’s a messy story of cross-onshore winds and poor conditions that are going to chop things up. We’re looking at a long stretch of marginal to poor surf, so don’t bother checking the cams until the very end of the run. The first real glimmer of something half-decent doesn’t show up until much later.

The main break on offer is Riviera. It’s a beginner-friendly spot that’s very consistent, but that consistency is currently working against it. The wind, mostly from the west and southwest, is blowing cross-onshore nearly the whole time, which is a killer for clean waves. The water temperature is 74°F with an anomaly of 7°F, making it much warmer than normal for this time of year.

The only real standout in this entire 16-day window is the morning of Wednesday, August 26th at Riviera. The swell is coming from the south (S) at a solid 3 ft, with a period of 18 seconds. That’s a long-period groundswell with good energy in the water (873 combined energy). The wind is a light breeze from the west-southwest, which is a cross-onshore, but it's light enough that it might just be small wind ripples rather than full-on chop. It’s still a marginal call, but relative to the rest of the period, this is the best you’re going to get. It’s not a day for beginners, but it’s the only window where a more experienced surfer might find a few decent ones.

Before that, the whole stretch from August 11th all the way through August 22nd is a write-off. There are several days in a row with no real recommendations. The winds are just too messy, and the swell is too weak and poorly directed. Even when the swell height bumps up to 4 ft on Saturday afternoon, August 15th, the cross-onshore winds ruin it.

The very end of the period, around Monday, August 25th and Tuesday, August 26th, shows the most promise. The swell directions swing more southerly, and the combined energy starts to climb significantly, hitting 1134 on the afternoon of the 26th. That’s moderate to strong energy. The wind is still a factor, but the light breeze conditions on the 26th morning give it a chance. It’s a long way out, so don’t book the trip just yet, but keep an eye on it.

Outside of that one Wednesday morning, it’s not looking good. You’re better off waxing the kiteboard than the shortboard for the next two weeks.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Tue afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Tue
11
Wednesday
12
Thursday
13
Friday
14
Saturday
15
Sunday
16
Monday
17
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
2
0
0
2
1
0
2
1
1
3
1
1
3
2
0
1
0
0
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
18
0.7
SW
18
0.6
SSW
17
0.7
SW
16
0.8
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.9
SW
16
0.8
SW
15
0.7
SSW
18
0.8
SSW
18
1.2
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1.1
SW
16
1
SSW
15
1
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.8
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
252
316
195
264
306
255
358
280
302
404
807
417
683
666
551
443
437
367
264
357
Wind (km/h)
20
W
5
W
10
WSW
15
WSW
5
WSW
10
SW
10
WSW
5
WSW
10
SW
15
W
5
WNW
10
SW
10
WSW
0
WNW
10
WSW
15
W
5
NW
15
W
20
W
5
NW
Wind State
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
glassy
on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
High Tide
8:37PM2.07m
9:55AM1.40m
9:22PM2.03m
10:28AM1.47m
10:06PM1.92m
11:02AM1.53m
10:48PM1.74m
11:37AM1.55m
11:31PM1.52m
12:11PM1.55m
00:18AM1.28m
12:47PM1.51m
1:15AM1.05m
Low Tide
2:30PM0.50m
3:44AM-0.35m
3:17PM0.40m
4:19AM-0.29m
4:04PM0.34m
4:52AM-0.17m
4:50PM0.32m
5:23AM-0.01m
5:38PM0.33m
5:51AM0.17m
6:30PM0.37m
6:17AM0.37m
7:30PM0.43m
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:09
6:11
6:11
6:11
6:13
6:13
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:40
7:38
7:37
7:37
7:36
7:35
7:34
 mm
1
Temp °C
24
22
24
23
21
22
22
19
22
22
19
22
23
20
23
23
21
24
24
22
Feels °C
24
25
25
23
22
23
22
20
22
21
19
23
22
21
24
22
21
24
23
22
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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