
Surf Forecasts:
The Wedge surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 15s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 862 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. 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 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Tuesday (Jul 21) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Wedge over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s be real about what’s on offer at The Wedge (breakwater). The next 16 days are a mixed bag, and honestly, we’re in for a bit of a waiting game. The waves are small, often messy, and the clean, punchy stuff we dream of is going to be a rare treat. The water is sitting at a touch warmer than normal, about 69°, which is a touch warmer than usual for this time of year, so at least the wait will be comfortable.
We kick off on Friday, July 17, and it’s flat and pretty hopeless. A tiny 1 ft SW swell with a super long period of 19 seconds is just not enough to make anything of it, especially with a 9 mph onshore wind. The combined energy is weak (210), and the call is poor surf conditions. This is the story for the first several days, with Saturday and Sunday offering tiny, crumbly swells, slight cross-onshore winds, and energy readings that are still in the moderate range (328 to 738). Saturday morning shows a bit more energy (328), but it's still small and the wind is on it. Sunday morning (July 19) looks a tiny bit better with a 2 ft SW swell and 17-second period, but the wind is on the nose. The surf is just not there.
Things start to tick up a little from Monday, July 20, but it’s still marginal. The swell picks up to 4 ft from the S on Monday morning with a 13-second period, and the energy climbs to 780. The wind is light cross-on, which is a glimmer of hope, but it’s still a “marginal surf forecast” call. Tuesday, July 21, has a similar 4 ft SSW swell and 12-second period, with light cross-shore winds, but the energy is still moderate (797) and the quality isn’t there. This pattern of small, choppy, and cross-shore wind continues right through the rest of the week and into the next.
Now, there is a standout, and it’s a bit of a sneaky one. Saturday, July 25, is our best bet. The morning offers a 3 ft SSW swell with a very long 21-second period, and the wind is light and onshore. The combined energy jumps to a strong 1122, which is a real sign of life. The afternoon sees the swell bumps to 4 ft, still from the SSW, with a 14-second period, and the wind swings to a light cross-shore. The energy is still strong (1026). It’s not going to be huge, but that long-period groundswell from the SSW has potential, especially for a breakwater like The Wedge. The light winds will keep it clean. It’s the most promising day in the whole window.
The following week, from July 27 to August 1, sees a lot of the same – small, marginal swells with cross-shore winds. Monday, July 27, has a 3 ft to 4 ft SSW swell with a 19-second period and light winds, but the energy is still moderate to strong (966-1182). The consistency is just not there for a proper session. We see a slow decline in energy and swell size as we head into the end of the month and into August, with the last few days of the forecast showing tiny 2 ft to 3 ft swells and the energy dropping back into the weak range (244-288). The wind stays cross-shore, but the surf just runs out of puff.
In short, if you’re a beginner, the swell is rarely above 5 ft, so it’s safe for you to paddle around, but the quality won’t be great. For experts, the consistent small size and often poor wind will be frustrating. The only real window for a decent wave is the 25th of July. Don’t get your hopes up for the rest of it.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 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) | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
130 | 74 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 112 | 284 | 424 | 362 | 461 | 396 | 643 | 466 | 358 | 362 | 334 | 325 | 229 | 225 | 259 | 330 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | on |
High Tide | 12:52PM1.39m | 00:09AM1.66m | 1:35PM1.43m | 1:01AM1.40m | 2:21PM1.46m | 2:05AM1.13m | 3:10PM1.48m | 3:36AM0.93m | 4:03PM1.50m | 5:49AM0.85m | 4:58PM1.53m | 7:48AM0.91m | 5:53PM1.58m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:13PM0.55m | 6:57AM-0.02m | 7:18PM0.57m | 7:33AM0.19m | 8:37PM0.57m | 8:09AM0.40m | 10:11PM0.52m | 8:47AM0.59m | 11:45PM0.39m | 9:36AM0.75m | 00:55AM0.25m | 10:51AM0.85m | 1:45AM0.12m | ||||||||
5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:58 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | S 13 | S 13 |
23 | 74 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 112 | 268 | 297 | 327 | 461 | 279 | 643 | 466 | 250 | 362 | 334 | 325 | 178 | 102 | 259 | 330 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | W 7 | W 6 | SSE 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | SW 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | S 13 | W 7 | W 6 |
130 | 14 | 7 | 46 | 70 | 65 | 284 | 424 | 362 | 298 | 396 | 214 | 291 | 358 | 121 | 59 | 10 | 229 | 225 | 43 | 39 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 12 | SW 13 | WSW 6 | SW 13 | WSW 6 | W 15 | W 15 | SSE 15 | SSW 20 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 26 |
54 | 51 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 27 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 37 | 38 | 40 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 45 | 153 | 123 | 120 | 66 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — |
3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | 66 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 119 | 0 | 53 | 119 | 17 | 53 | 119 | 0 | 119 | 116 | 11 | 53 | 119 | 7 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










