Surf Forecasts:
The Wedge surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period, SSW swell with 310 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 16s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Wedge this week:
The surf forecast for The Wedge over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 16s 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 The Wedge in the next 16 days are 0.8m 16s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 18) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 6s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Wedge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's take a good hard look at what's on the table for The Wedge. We've got a 16-day window, and to be straight with you, it's a challenging one. The Wedge is a heavy, advanced spot, and for the next few days it's just not cooperating.
The standout window, and really the only one that's got me talking, is coming up.
Wednesday morning, August 19th. The lights go green for a moment. We've got glassy conditions, a light air, and a solid 3 ft SSW groundswell rumbling in with a long 15-second period. The combined energy is moderate (325). This is the moment the lineup might just have a proper pulse. The Wedge doesn't need much to get nuts, and clean conditions on a day like this make it the best on offer by a long shot.
However, the rest of the first week is a grind. The swell sticks around 2 ft to 3 ft, mostly from the SSW, but the winds are messy. Morning cross-onshore breezes are the norm, leaving the surface chopped up and the wave comment reading "poor surf conditions." It’s frustrating.
From Monday, August 24th through Thursday, August 28th, we’re in a real dead zone. The wave state is either "poor" or "marginal." The swell drops further to 1 ft to 2 ft, but with periods holding from 14 to 18 seconds. A long-period groundswell that small at a wide-open spot like The Wedge just won’t push through with any force on the sandbars. The combined energy dips as low as 228. It's flat or close to it.
Late in the window, around Friday afternoon, August 28th, things perk up a little. The wind switches to a light cross-offshore from the NE, cleaning up the surface. The swell bumps up to a clean 2 ft from the SSW with a 16-second period. The combined energy hits 285 and the comment says "expect good surf conditions." For this stretch, that’s as good as it gets. Still small, but rideable.
Saturday, August 29th to Sunday, August 30th, we get a weird one. The swell holds at a consistent 3 ft from the SSW with a 15-second period, and the combined energy climbs strongly into the 400s and 480 (moderate). But the wave comment for every session is either "marginal" or "poor." The wind is cross-shore at 6-9 mph, putting a slight chop on the face. The energy is there, but the quality isn't making the cut.
Monday, September 1st closes the window with another 3 ft SSW groundswell (14-second period) and the combined energy is a solid 548. The catch? A cross-onshore wind. It’s a tease. The power is building, but the wind isn't cooperating. If the wind forecast cleans up, keep an eye on this day, but right now it’s a "marginal" call.
The bottom line: The one clean, glassy shot is Wednesday morning, August 19th. Everything else this side of the month is a fight for dribbles. For a break this heavy, a long stretch of small swell and poor wind is just part of the deal. Don't expect much, and if that Wednesday morning shows clean, get in the water.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed afternoon, min 20°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
268 | 268 | 268 | 261 | 203 | 184 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 120 | 165 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross | glassy | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross | glassy |
High Tide | 00:37AM1.28m | 1:07PM1.55m | 1:37AM1.05m | 1:48PM1.50m | 3:20AM0.88m | 2:43PM1.45m | 3:58PM1.43m | 8:42AM1.01m | 5:18PM1.47m | 8:36AM1.08m | 6:20PM1.55m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:30AM0.41m | 7:52PM0.45m | 6:52AM0.60m | 9:20PM0.46m | 7:06AM0.77m | 11:08PM0.41m | 00:28AM0.29m | 10:22AM1.01m | 1:20AM0.18m | 12:13PM0.97m | 1:57AM0.08m | ||||||||
— | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:34 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 22 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
268 | 268 | 268 | 48 | 43 | 41 | 242 | 270 | 280 | 196 | 183 | 183 | 175 | 101 | 99 | 98 | 63 | 120 | 165 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 6 | SSW 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 17 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 5 | W 6 | SW 19 | W 5 | SW 18 | W 6 | SSW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | WSW 6 |
19 | 25 | 32 | 261 | 203 | 184 | 35 | 39 | 18 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 5 | 81 | 6 | 51 | 7 | 6 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | SW 20 | S 9 | SW 18 | SW 19 | S 10 | S 10 | W 6 | SW 18 | W 5 | SW 18 | SW 19 | SW 19 |
8 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 67 | 67 | 2 | 16 | 1 | 12 | 57 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 50 | 5 | 50 | 55 | 58 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 7 | — | — | W 8 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
34 | — | 33 | — | — | 70 | — | — | 57 | — | — | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 61 | 119 | 119 | 19 | 53 | 119 | 0 | 0 | 119 | 0 | 53 | 116 | 27 | 53 | 53 | 30 | 53 | 116 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Wedge Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Wedge provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Wedge can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Wedge 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 (The Wedge) 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 The Wedge 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.
The Wedge is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Newport Beach. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Newport Beach. Newport Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











