Surf Forecasts:
Thousand Steps surf forecast from 3 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 8 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 366 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 13s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Thousand Steps this week:
The surf forecast for Thousand Steps over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thousand Steps in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 08) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 8th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thousand Steps over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming our way. Honestly, the next couple of weeks are a bit of a mixed bag. We’ve got a run of tiny, clean little waves, but nothing that’s going to get the heart racing. The good news is the wind is mostly light, so if you’re desperate for a paddle, you won’t be battling the chop.
The first standout, and really the only serious one, is Thousand Steps over the weekend of the 9th and 10th of August. We’ve got a solid groundswell pushing in from the SSW with a very long period of 19 seconds on the Friday morning, pumping the combined energy up to 331 (moderate). That’s proper groundswell, which at a reef break like this can be magic. The water temp is sitting at a very unusual 74°, which is a whopping 8° warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a warm bath out there.
The waves are still pretty small, only around 2ft to 2ft, but that long period means the shape will be way better than the size suggests. The wind is light cross-onshore at times, but mostly light and onshore, so it’s clean enough. Get on it Friday morning or Saturday morning for the cleanest conditions. The crowds are listed as "sometimes" busy, so you might have a few buddies out, but at this size it shouldn’t be a zoo.
Now, for the long-range. The week starting Monday the 11th stays frustratingly small, with the same 2ft to 2ft range. On the 14th of August, the combined energy spikes to 433 (strong) early Friday morning, but the swell stays tiny at 2ft. The period is a very long 18 seconds, so there’s just a lot of deep ocean energy that isn’t stacking up. It’s a bit of a tease. Saturday the 15th is the last chance with the energy hitting 496 (strong) and the swell creeping up to 3ft, but still with that long period. It’s marginal, but if you’re a patient soul, the 15th afternoon might be the best of the second week. After that, the energy drops off again.
The last day of the outlook, Monday the 17th of August, shows a different direction. We get a 4ft swell from the west, but with a short, weak period of only 7 seconds. That’s windswell, and it’s not going to be pretty. The combined energy is still 347 (moderate), but it’ll be a bumpy, ugly mess compared to the long-period groundswell earlier.
So, bottom line: Mark your calendar for the 9th of August. That’s your best bet. The rest is a waiting game for something more than a waist-high ripple.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 21°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed afternoon, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | ||||||||||||||
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 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 49 | 47 | 42 | 66 | 41 | 84 | 77 | 75 | 71 | 71 | 97 | 88 | 114 | 84 | 212 | 210 | 348 | 237 | 229 | 366 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross |
High Tide | 00:02AM1.72m | 1:03PM1.85m | 00:53AM1.51m | 1:42PM1.90m | 2:11AM1.31m | 2:33PM1.95m | 4:27AM1.19m | 3:40PM2.02m | 6:50AM1.26m | 4:54PM2.11m | 7:53AM1.38m | 6:04PM2.24m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:19PM0.93m | 6:24AM0.63m | 7:21PM0.91m | 6:50AM0.78m | 8:41PM0.85m | 7:21AM0.94m | 10:19PM0.74m | 8:05AM1.09m | 11:49PM0.55m | 9:35AM1.20m | 00:54AM0.34m | 11:22AM1.23m | 1:46AM0.15m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — |
 | 7:50 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 15 | W 5 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 10 | 11 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 14 | 77 | 12 | 71 | 71 | 97 | 88 | 114 | 84 | 212 | 111 | 348 | 237 | 229 | 366 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 12 | SW 15 | SW 12 | SW 15 | W 5 | SSW 12 | W 5 | W 5 | W 5 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 19 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SSW 12 |
| kJ | 49 | 44 | 42 | 66 | 39 | 84 | 22 | 75 | 8 | 13 | 11 | 8 | 8 | 82 | 114 | 210 | 53 | 50 | 71 | 56 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 12 | S 10 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | S 9 | S 9 | S 12 | SSW 20 | W 5 | WSW 5 | W 5 | SSW 14 | S 9 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 46 | 47 | 23 | 66 | 41 | 38 | 8 | 41 | 16 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 40 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 63 | 15 | 14 | 14 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | — | — | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 0 | 70 | 104 | 0 | 70 | 104 | 0 | 70 | 104 | 0 | 70 | 104 | 39 | 70 | 104 | 70 | 70 | 104 | 70 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Thousand Steps Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Thousand Steps provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Thousand Steps can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Thousand Steps 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 (Thousand Steps) 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 Thousand Steps 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.
Thousand Steps is 4 km (2 miles) from Laguna Niguel. If you plan a vacation in Orange County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Laguna Niguel. Laguna Niguel has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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