Surf Forecasts:
Riviera surf forecast from 30 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, S swell with 813 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 30 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period with S 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 Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 5s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riviera in the next 16 days are 1.4m 14s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Thu 30th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riviera over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right then, let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it’s a pretty grim stretch for the Riviera (Riviera). The opening days are a real struggle. We’ve got a bit of a long-period SSW groundswell pushing through on Thursday the 30th of July, with waves around 3ft to 3ft, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore, and the water is sitting at 74°F – that’s a massive 7°F above the norm for this time of year, which feels very unusual, like a warm bath. The combined energy is moderate (798) but the report calls it marginal, and I’d agree. It’s not looking inviting.
Friday the 31st of July is more of the same, with the swell dropping slightly and the wind still cross-onshore. The combo of a 4ft swell and 14-second period is okay, but the report says poor. Saturday the 1st of August sees a drop in energy to 325, and the wind swings onshore.
From Sunday the 2nd of August right through to Friday the 14th of August, it’s a long, flat, and bumpy run. The swell sizes are tiny, mostly 1ft to 3ft, with a mix of cross-onshore and onshore winds. The forecast is consistently poor, with scores of zero. The combined energy drops to two-digit and low three-digit values (136 to 453), which is weak. The only bit of interest is on the 10th of August, when a long-period SW groundswell (20 seconds) rolls in, but it’s only 2ft, and again, it’s rated as marginal at best. The period is very long, so it might straighten out at a beach break like this, but the size is so small it won’t matter.
There is no standout window here. The best of a bad bunch is arguably Thursday the 30th of July, but that’s not saying much. The water’s weirdly warm, the wind is funk, and the swell is weak. For a beginner spot, it’s too small and messy to even learn on. After that, it’s a solid 10-day gap of nothing worth paddling out for. The area is going through a quiet spell, and it’s one of those runs where waiting for a change in the forecast is the only play. For the kite surfers, the onshore wind and small waves might be a bit more fun, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a write-off.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 348 | 468 | 674 | 588 | 322 | 265 | 249 | 289 | 119 | 73 | 88 | 83 | 82 | 91 | 91 | 84 | 77 | 75 | 162 | 71 | 125 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:49AM1.24m | 9:59PM1.76m | 11:17AM1.29m | 10:31PM1.68m | 11:45AM1.34m | 11:06PM1.55m | 12:14PM1.39m | 11:46PM1.37m | 12:48PM1.44m | 00:36AM1.16m | 1:29PM1.48m | 1:54AM0.95m | 2:22PM1.52m | 4:05AM0.83m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:58PM0.58m | 5:03AM-0.09m | 4:35PM0.55m | 5:29AM-0.02m | 5:17PM0.54m | 5:54AM0.09m | 6:05PM0.53m | 6:19AM0.23m | 7:05PM0.52m | 6:45AM0.38m | 8:25PM0.49m | 7:15AM0.55m | 10:07PM0.40m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | |
 | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 24 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 |
Feels °C | 23 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 348 | 468 | 674 | 588 | 322 | 265 | 249 | 289 | 75 | 35 | 38 | 37 | 31 | 31 | 19 | 84 | 77 | 75 | 162 | 71 | 125 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 13 | W 6 | S 9 | S 11 | S 10 | W 7 | W 7 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 12 | W 6 |
| kJ | 276 | 202 | 5 | 44 | 146 | 69 | 34 | 33 | 119 | 73 | 88 | 83 | 82 | 83 | 39 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 34 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | W 9 | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | S 9 | SW 15 | W 7 | SSW 9 | SSW 9 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 174 | 2 | — | 15 | 21 | 14 | 42 | 76 | 22 | 47 | 30 | 46 | 23 | 91 | 91 | 22 | 36 | 40 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | — | 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 89 | 89 | 0 | 81 | 89 | 0 | 81 | 89 | 3 | 85 | 89 | 0 | 81 | 149 | 27 | 85 | 86 | 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.
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