Surf Forecasts:
Riviera surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 24 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 402 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 14s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Riviera in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. 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+) | 2AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 24th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Riviera over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here, and I’ve got to give it to you straight. Looking at the next 16 days for Riviera, it’s a pretty lean run. We’ve got a big, quiet gap staring us in the face from now until the start of the action. So, strap in – it’s a waiting game.
There’s nothing worth paddling out for until we hit Saturday the 29th of August. From the start of the forecast right through until then, the best we can manage is a whole lot of tiny, weak, and choppy junk. The swell is barely a ripple, the winds are mostly cross-on or onshore, and the wave energy readings are hopeless – we’re talking values under 400 for days on end. It’s flat, it’s messy, and honestly, it’s not worth getting the board bag wet. That’s nearly a 12-day dry spell.
Finally, on Saturday the 29th of August, we get a pulse of life. It’s not perfect, but it’s something. The swell bumps up to a clean 4 ft from the SSW with a period of 18 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell. The water temperature is a very unusual 73°F (6°F warmer than normal for the area), so it’s feeling like a warm bath out there. The wave energy jumps to a solid 1124 (moderate to strong energy), which is very welcome after all the nothingness.
The standout session looks like Saturday afternoon. The swell is still a solid 4 ft from the SSW, and the wind is swinging offshore from the SW at a light 6 mph. That’s clean conditions. Because that period is long (18 seconds), the sets will be well-spaced and the waves will have some punch. This is a beginner-friendly spot by nature, and while 4 ft is a nice size for a learner, the longer period might make things a bit more powerful. Keep that in mind. Expect some company, because this break can get crowded.
Sunday the 30th of August holds similar 5 ft SSW swell for the morning, still with that light offshore wind. It’s another good window, but the energy drops slightly. After that, into the first week of September, the swell starts to fade and the winds go cross-onshore again, returning us to the marginal conditions we know.
So, the takeaway is: save your energy for that weekend of the 29th and 30th. It’s the only real light in a long, dim tunnel.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Mon 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 264 | 257 | 232 | 243 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 123 | 218 | 177 | 155 | 269 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:15AM1.05m | 1:28PM1.45m | 2:46AM0.87m | 2:22PM1.40m | 3:41PM1.37m | 8:16AM0.98m | 5:05PM1.40m | 8:13AM1.05m | 6:07PM1.49m | 8:24AM1.11m | 6:54PM1.59m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:30PM0.43m | 6:40AM0.56m | 8:50PM0.46m | 6:55AM0.73m | 10:43PM0.43m | 00:16AM0.32m | 9:51AM0.97m | 1:08AM0.21m | 11:54AM0.93m | 1:45AM0.11m | 12:49PM0.84m | 2:15AM0.03m | ||||||||
 |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 24 |
Feels °C | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | 264 | 257 | 37 | 39 | 272 | 377 | 387 | 249 | 236 | 236 | 226 | 156 | 137 | 135 | 92 | 123 | 218 | 137 | 135 | 269 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 12 | SW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | W 10 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 63 | 31 | 232 | 243 | 39 | 58 | 29 | 16 | 17 | 10 | 44 | 81 | 51 | 51 | 81 | 89 | 30 | 177 | 155 | 199 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | WSW 19 | S 10 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 7 | W 6 | SW 19 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 5 |
| kJ | 8 | 2 | 114 | 98 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 57 | 35 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 49 | 8 | 7 | 58 | 86 | 84 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 89 | 0 | 85 | 89 | 0 | 71 | 89 | 0 | 68 | 86 | 0 | 81 | 89 | 0 | 81 | 89 | 0 | 85 | 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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