Surf Forecasts:
Thousand Steps surf forecast from 4 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,364 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 3 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period with SSW 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 Thursday (Sep 03) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 0.9m and 5s 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 1.9m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) 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+) | 11PM (Thu 3rd Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 7th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thousand Steps over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, looking at the only game in town for the next couple of weeks.
Alright, let’s be straight with you. The forecast for the next 16 days is a tough one to swallow. The only spot on the radar is Thousand Steps, and it’s a real mixed bag. The water is sitting at 25°, which is much warmer than normal for this time of year – feels like a summer holdover.
We kick off on Thursday, September 3rd with a tiny, clean 2ft of swell from the SW with a long 18-second period, but the wave comment straight up says "poor surf conditions." The energy is moderate (426), but it’s just not doing the job. Friday the 4th through Sunday the 6th sees a steady climb in size, with the swell peaking at 6ft from the S on Sunday, with a period of 14 seconds. The energy jumps into the strong range (1157 by Sunday arvo), but the wind is stuck cross-on from the WNW, keeping things messy. The wave comments keep calling it "marginal" at best.
Monday the 7th still holds 6ft of SSW swell (14-second period), but again, it’s cross-on. The energy is still strong (1209), but the wind is a gentle breeze making it "fairly choppy." It’s frustrating because the size is there, but the quality isn’t.
From Tuesday the 8th, things start to taper off slowly. The swell drops to 4ft by Wednesday the 9th, and the energy fades back to moderate (592). The wind stays cross-on, and the reports are all "poor" or "marginal."
After the 10th of September, we hit a real dry spell. From the 11th all the way through to the 18th, the swell is consistently below 3ft, mostly around 1ft to 2ft. The energy drops right off into the weak range (as low as 127). The wind is mostly a light cross-on breeze, but the waves just aren't there. It’s a long stretch of small, weak, and poor surf.
The only real standout, if you can call it that, is the Sunday, September 6th period. The swell hits 5ft to 6ft from the S with a 14-second period, giving the strongest energy of the whole run (1157). The wind is a light cross-on, so it’s not completely blown out, but it’s still not clean. For a reef break at Thousand Steps, that S swell direction is the optimum, so the lines should be there. It’s your best bet, but keep your expectations in check. Expect crowds, because it’s the only option.
Other than that, there’s a long gap with no real recommendations. It’s a pretty grim outlook for the next two weeks.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun afternoon, min 22°C on Sun afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SW 17 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 327 | 497 | 498 | 559 | 525 | 387 | 561 | 974 | 1057 | 1097 | 663 | 1189 | 1139 | 1286 | 968 | 922 | 722 | 372 | 365 | 298 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross | cross-on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:09AM1.25m | 3:15PM1.99m | 7:14AM1.38m | 4:47PM2.04m | 7:43AM1.51m | 6:02PM2.15m | 8:11AM1.63m | 7:02PM2.25m | 8:39AM1.76m | 7:53PM2.30m | 9:07AM1.87m | 8:39PM2.28m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:09PM0.59m | 7:03AM1.25m | 11:39PM0.45m | 10:02AM1.32m | 00:41AM0.30m | 11:50AM1.24m | 1:29AM0.17m | 12:57PM1.08m | 2:09AM0.11m | 1:49PM0.91m | 2:45AM0.10m | 2:36PM0.75m | 3:18AM0.16m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | 7:14 | — | — | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
Feels °C | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 |
| kJ | 327 | 497 | 498 | 559 | 525 | 366 | 561 | 974 | 1057 | 1097 | 663 | 1189 | 1139 | 1286 | 968 | 922 | 722 | 372 | 365 | 182 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | W 6 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 11 | SSW 15 | W 5 | SW 11 | — | SW 18 | SW 22 | W 5 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 |
| kJ | 15 | 31 | 108 | 165 | 239 | 387 | 392 | 46 | 19 | 22 | 532 | 9 | 4 | — | 111 | 18 | 10 | 165 | 219 | 298 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | W 6 | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 13 | SW 20 | W 12 | — | WSW 11 | — | — | SW 21 | — | — | SSW 13 | SSW 20 | W 4 |
| kJ | 56 | 28 | 15 | 44 | 58 | 49 | 68 | 3 | 15 | 3 | — | 11 | — | — | 18 | — | — | 55 | 38 | 10 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | W 11 | W 5 | — | W 5 | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | — | W 3 | — |
| kJ | 28 | — | — | 13 | 9 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 11 | — | 9 | — | 8 | 13 | — | — | 5 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 10 | 70 | 104 | 0 | 104 | 104 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 104 | 104 | 2 | 104 | 104 | 7 | 104 | 104 | 20 |
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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