Riviera Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.41° N 117.61° W

Riviera Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 10 am 26 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Riviera sea temperature is
21.7° C
2.4° 

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


Riviera surf forecast from 27 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Thursday 30 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Tuesday 28 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 17s period, SSW swell with 1,120 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 26 Jul, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 Sunday (Jul 26) at 8PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. 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 17s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Jul 28) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8PM (Sun 26th Jul)3.5ft (1.1m) 18s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 30th Jul)5ft (1.6m) 14s
Most Powerful 2PM (Tue 28th Jul)4.5ft (1.4m) 17s

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


The Lowdown

Hey, Rusty here. Let's break down what Riviera's got cooking for the next couple of weeks. The water is warm – 71°F, which is 4°F above the usual for this time of year, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home.

Right now, we've got some long-period groundswell filling in. Don't get too excited, but it's there. This Sunday the 26th of July we are looking at a clean 4ft swell out of the SW, with a very long 19-second period. The wind is light and onshore from the SSW at 6 mph, and the wave energy is moderate (925). The afternoon drops to 18 seconds, same size. It's all flagged as "marginal surf," meaning it's rideable but nothing special.

Monday the 27th brings a touch more size – 4ft from the SSW, still with a long 18-second period. The morning wind is light and cross-onshore, so the surface won't be glassy. The combined energy climbs (1129) but the quality warning stays. For a break that's super consistent and beginner-friendly, you could definitely get wet.

Tuesday the 28th is more of the same: 4ft, 17-second SSW swell, but a 9 mph S breeze in the morning will stir up some chop. The afternoon cleans up with lighter onshore wind. Energy numbers are still solid (1065-1114), but every session is flagged as marginal. It's a persistent "meh" pattern.

Wednesday and Thursday keep it going with 4ft to 5ft swell, periods dropping from 16 to 13 seconds. The combined energy hangs in the moderate range (885-1025). Still, the forecast keeps calling it marginal. Friday the 31st holds at 5ft, but the period is down to 13 seconds and the 9 mph cross-onshore breeze won't help.

Saturday the 1st of August, the power starts to fade. The morning sees 5ft with a 12-second period and energy dropping (646). By the afternoon it's down to 4ft. Then from Sunday the 2nd of August, we hit a proper flat spell. From the 2nd all the way through to the 10th of August, swell is tiny – 1ft to 3ft – and every session is flagged as "poor surf conditions." That's a 9-day stretch with nothing worth paddling out for.

There's a tiny pulse on Friday the 7th of August – 2ft from the SSW, with a very long 19-second period again. Energy picks up a little (397), but it's still marginal. For a beach break, that super long period tends to make waves break too straight.

So what's the best of it? Honestly, this whole fortnight is a bit of a dud. The only window that's even working is from Sunday the 26th of July through to about Saturday the 1st of August, and it's all marginal quality. If you're a beginner who just wants to get out in clean, small waves, Sunday morning the 26th of July is your best bet – 4ft, 19-second period, light winds. That's as friendly as it gets here. For anyone with experience, the bigger 5ft days on the 30th and 31st of July have a little more juice, but the dropping period and bumpy winds will keep it from being any good.

After the 1st of August, put the board away. Over a week of flatness. That's just how it goes sometimes.

This is Rusty, signing off.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
Friday
31
Saturday
1
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
2
2
1
2
3
2
2
4
1
1
3
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.1
SW
19
1.1
SW
18
1.1
SW
18
1.3
SSW
18
1.2
SSW
18
1.2
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
17
1.3
SSW
16
1.1
SSW
16
1.2
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1.3
S
14
1.6
S
14
1.6
S
14
1.6
S
13
1.6
S
13
1.6
SSW
13
1.5
SSW
12
1.3
SSW
12
0.9
SSW
11
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
863
743
719
1056
893
771
1009
1020
818
612
724
499
653
960
1014
933
892
823
619
482
161
Wind (km/h)
10
SSW
10
SW
10
SSE
10
SSW
10
SW
5
SSE
15
S
10
SSW
10
SE
10
S
15
SSW
5
S
10
SW
10
WSW
5
SSW
10
WSW
10
WSW
5
WNW
10
SW
10
SW
5
S
Wind State
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
on
glassy
High Tide
9:12AM1.07m
7:47PM1.70m
9:35AM1.11m
8:23PM1.76m
9:59AM1.15m
8:55PM1.80m
10:24AM1.19m
9:27PM1.80m
10:49AM1.24m
9:59PM1.76m
11:17AM1.29m
10:31PM1.68m
11:45AM1.34m
11:06PM1.55m
Low Tide
1:32PM0.78m
3:13AM-0.08m
2:10PM0.72m
3:42AM-0.12m
2:46PM0.66m
4:09AM-0.14m
3:21PM0.61m
4:36AM-0.13m
3:58PM0.58m
5:03AM-0.09m
4:35PM0.55m
5:29AM-0.02m
5:17PM0.54m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:00
6:01
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:53
7:53
7:52
7:52
7:51
7:51
7:50
 mm
Temp °C
24
25
23
25
25
22
24
24
22
24
24
22
24
24
22
25
25
23
25
26
23
Feels °C
26
26
25
26
26
24
24
24
23
24
24
24
24
24
24
26
25
24
26
27
25
  • Map Icons:
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  • 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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