Surf Forecasts:
Thousand Steps surf forecast from 14 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period, S swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 412 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 13s period with S 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 Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 16s. 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 Tuesday (Jul 21) at 5AM. 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+) | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 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 down the pipe for the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, the outlook starts off pretty flat and frustrating. We’ve got a long stretch of nothing much happening. The first recommendation doesn’t pop up until the morning of Saturday, 19th July, and even then it’s only a marginal call. So that’s a solid gap of several days with no real surf on offer.
The main event, and the only real standout in this whole run, is going to be around the weekend of the 26th and 27th. The swell energy builds into a moderate-to-strong range, with readings around 1000 in the combined energy, which is a solid pulse. For a reef break like Thousand Steps, that’s what we’re waiting for.
The best bet looks like the morning of Saturday, 26th July. The swell is coming from the SSW at about 3ft, but the period is a very long 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell, and it’s going to wrap in nicely. The wind is offshore from the SW, which is light and clean, so the face will be glassy. The water temperature is sitting at 69°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be comfortable out there.
The Saturday afternoon session on the 26th gets a bit messy with a cross-onshore breeze picking up, so morning is definitely the window. The Sunday morning on the 27th also has a bit of life with a 3ft SW swell and a good 18-second period, but it’s a gamble with a light cross-onshore breeze. Still, it’s a better option than most of the week.
The Saturday morning on the 26th is the one to circle. It’s a little ways out, so keep an eye on the forecasts, but that’s the pulse I’d be aiming for.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri morning, min 19°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 12 | SW 17 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 119 | 123 | 152 | 78 | 96 | 90 | 67 | 88 | 91 | 130 | 74 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 242 | 353 | 358 | 248 | 255 | 258 | 407 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:47AM1.65m | 9:42PM2.56m | 11:28AM1.71m | 10:30PM2.45m | 12:10PM1.76m | 11:19PM2.26m | 12:51PM1.80m | 00:08AM2.01m | 1:34PM1.84m | 1:01AM1.74m | 2:18PM1.86m | 2:06AM1.48m | 3:05PM1.88m | 3:41AM1.29m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:26PM0.99m | 4:57AM-0.12m | 4:20PM0.95m | 5:38AM-0.01m | 5:15PM0.94m | 6:17AM0.16m | 6:15PM0.94m | 6:55AM0.36m | 7:21PM0.95m | 7:31AM0.58m | 8:39PM0.94m | 8:06AM0.79m | 10:09PM0.88m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:50 | — | — | 5:50 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:52 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — |
 | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | W 6 | W 6 | W 8 | W 7 | W 7 | WSW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 10 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 119 | 123 | 96 | 16 | 19 | 57 | 67 | 53 | 42 | 38 | 25 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 242 | 353 | 325 | 248 | 191 | 135 | 407 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 6 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 9 |
| kJ | 57 | 111 | 152 | 65 | 50 | 90 | 64 | 88 | 77 | 130 | 74 | 12 | 41 | 65 | 66 | 232 | 358 | 214 | 255 | 258 | 87 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 15 | S 10 | W 4 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 19 | SW 14 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 15 | W 15 | W 15 | W 5 | SSW 20 | WSW 4 |
| kJ | 17 | 8 | 6 | 78 | 96 | 48 | 28 | 27 | 91 | 54 | 51 | 49 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 5 | 75 | 4 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | W 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 2 | SSE 4 | SSE 4 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 5 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 12 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 104 | 19 | 70 | 104 | 48 | 70 | 70 | 48 | 70 | 70 | 22 | 70 | 151 | 70 | 104 | 104 | 13 | 70 | 104 | 0 |
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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