Riviera Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.41° N 117.61° W

Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 30 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Riviera sea temperature is
23.3° C
3.9° 

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


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 TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Best Surf11PM (Thu 30th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 14s
Most Powerful11PM (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 Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly 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
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
3
1
0
2
1
1
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
15
1.3
S
14
1.2
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
13
0.9
SSW
13
0.6
S
13
0.5
S
12
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.6
SW
14
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy 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)
10
WSW
15
WSW
5
SSE
10
WSW
10
W
5
WSW
10
SW
10
SW
5
SSE
15
SSW
10
SW
5
SSW
15
SSW
10
SSW
5
S
15
SSW
10
SSW
5
S
10
SW
10
WSW
0
W
Wind State
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:03
6:03
6:03
6:05
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
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
  • 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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