Surf Forecasts:
TCs surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 16s period, SSW swell with 223 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 19 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 15s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for TCs this week:
The surf forecast for TCs over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at TCs in the next 16 days are 0.7m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Wed 19th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for TCs over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, Rusty again. Lookin’ at the same charts for TCs (TCs, reef), and I’ve gotta be honest with ya – this stretch is a total washout. Nothin’ but poor surf conditions from start to finish, and I can’t point to a single session that’s worth gettin’ wet for. It’s one of those long, quiet spells where you’re better off tinkering with your fins.
The first surf we see is for the morning of Monday the 17th of August. There’s a tiny 2ft swell coming from the SSW, with a period of 14 seconds – that’s a long-period groundswell, but the combined energy is only weak at 219. The wind is a light cross-onshore from the SW, and it’s just makin’ a mess of things. No good.
From there, it’s all downhill. The swell drops even smaller, down to 2ft and 1ft through the middle of the week, with that same cross-onshore or onshore wind spoiling every session. Tuesday the 18th, Wednesday the 19th, Thursday the 20th, Friday the 21st – every day is a write-off. Saturday the 22nd is the smallest, a pathetic 1.0ft wave with an 18-second period, but the energy is still weak at 103. The wind is light, but it’s cross-on, and the wave comment is just “poor surf conditions.”
We get a small bump in combined energy on Sunday the 23rd (201), but it’s still only 1ft of swell with cross-on wind. The story is the same through the next week. Monday the 24th, Tuesday the 25th, Wednesday the 26th – nothing but small, weak, wind-affected slop.
On Thursday the 27th, there’s light rain and a weak SSE wind, but it’s still cross-on and poor. Friday the 28th gives us a brief window of clean conditions in the afternoon with a light E wind that’s cross-off, and the swell is 2ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. The combined energy is moderate at 226. But it’s still a poor surf condition overall – not enough to get excited about.
Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see the combined energy climb up to 365 and 314, but the swell is still only 2ft, and the wind is back to cross-on or cross-shore. It’s just messy and weak. Finally, Monday the 31st and into Tuesday the 1st of September, it’s the same old story – tiny swell, onshore wind, poor conditions.
Because it’s a reef break and the optimum swell direction is SW, the SSW and SW swells we get are in the right ballpark, but the size is just too small and the wind is never clean. Long-period swells can be good for a reef, but not when they’re this small and blown out. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothin’ strange.
There’s nothin’ here worth paddlin’ for. It’s a total blank run. This place gets these quiet stretches, and this is one of ‘em. I’d say wait it out and check back next week – forecasts can change, so don’t give up entirely.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Mon morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
186 | 186 | 180 | 146 | 109 | 142 | 209 | 217 | 125 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 50 | 50 | 120 | 127 | 111 | 112 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 1:07PM1.57m | 1:41AM1.06m | 1:47PM1.52m | 3:28AM0.89m | 2:39PM1.47m | 3:55PM1.44m | 8:46AM1.04m | 5:18PM1.47m | 8:43AM1.11m | 6:22PM1.55m | 8:55AM1.16m | 7:09PM1.65m | |||||||||
Low Tide | 7:53PM0.42m | 6:55AM0.61m | 9:18PM0.44m | 7:10AM0.79m | 11:03PM0.40m | 00:27AM0.29m | 10:23AM1.03m | 1:20AM0.18m | 12:15PM0.99m | 1:59AM0.08m | 1:06PM0.91m | 2:29AM0.01m | |||||||||
6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:37 | — | — | 7:36 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 23 |
Feels °C | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | W 5 |
186 | 186 | 60 | 50 | 35 | 47 | 209 | 217 | 125 | 118 | 120 | 115 | 69 | 68 | 68 | 42 | 42 | 120 | 58 | 57 | 20 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | W 6 | W 8 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | WSW 5 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 14 |
31 | 32 | 180 | 146 | 70 | 142 | 25 | 5 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 29 | 5 | 127 | 111 | 103 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | W 10 | SW 9 | SW 13 | SSW 17 | SW 19 | SW 20 | W 14 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 12 | W 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 19 | W 5 | S 16 | SW 18 |
2 | 2 | 3 | 42 | 109 | 15 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 50 | 49 | 47 | 50 | 50 | 58 | 5 | 20 | 112 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — |
— | 27 | — | — | 64 | — | — | 18 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | — | — | 9 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 129 | 129 | 12 | 12 | 53 | 12 | 12 | 129 | 12 | 12 | 74 | 11 | 12 | 74 | 12 | 12 | 53 | 11 | 74 | 129 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the TCs Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for TCs provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at TCs can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our TCs 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 (TCs) 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 TCs 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.
TCs is 7 km (4 miles) from Rancho Palos Verdes. If you plan a vacation in Los Angeles County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Rancho Palos Verdes. Rancho Palos Verdes has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











