Surf Forecasts:
Thousand Steps surf forecast from 5 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,306 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 13s. 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 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 3s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (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 again, same situation, but in feet and degrees Fahrenheit for y'all.
Right, we're looking at a reef break called Thousand Steps. The water's feeling like a warm bath at roughly 75°, which is a huge 8° warmer than normal for this time of year – you'll notice that the second you hit the water.
The outlook is pretty grim for the next week or so. Mostly onshore chop and tiny waves mean there's a big gap of nothing worth paddling for. There’s really only one standout in this whole 16-day run.
That day is Sunday, the 6th of September. Morning and afternoon both have it together. Expect clean surf in the 5ft to 6ft range from the S, with a 14-second period. That's a long-period groundswell carrying a ton of energy, and it's going to run perfectly on the reef. The wind is light and offshore or cross-off, so you're looking at smooth, lined-up waves. The forecast says it's excellent for experienced surfers, and at this size, it'll be a bit hefty for the beginners. The crowds can show up sometimes, but for quality like this, you'll want to be an early bird.
After that Sunday, the swell drops off a cliff. From Monday the 7th onward, it’s a long run of poor to marginal conditions. The wind stays onshore from the WNW, and the waves shrink down to 1ft to 3ft for the next week and a half. There’s a little bump on the 18th of September, but it's a short-period windswell with a choppy cross-breeze – that's kite-surfing weather, not clean surf. If you aren't in the water on Sunday the 6th, you're looking at a dry spell that just keeps going.
The call is simple. Sunday the 6th is your only real shot. Make it count.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 23°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | ||||||||||||||
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 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 559 | 525 | 387 | 537 | 932 | 1014 | 1063 | 1034 | 1207 | 1306 | 1012 | 317 | 633 | 416 | 275 | 208 | 350 | 419 | 376 | 358 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 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 | 9:35AM1.97m | 9:23PM2.20m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 3:20PM0.62m | 3:48AM0.28m | |||||||
 |  | |  |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | 7:12 | — | — | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 10 | SW 11 | SW 9 |
| kJ | 559 | 525 | 372 | 537 | 932 | 1014 | 1063 | 1034 | 1207 | 1306 | 1012 | 249 | 633 | 416 | 275 | 208 | 117 | 163 | 213 | 162 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | WSW 11 | W 12 | W 11 | S 12 | W 10 | — | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 165 | 239 | 387 | 392 | 46 | 3 | 37 | 472 | 17 | — | 50 | 317 | 81 | 130 | 130 | 129 | 350 | 419 | 376 | 358 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | SW 11 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 13 | SW 20 | W 12 | WSW 10 | SW 10 | — | — | SW 18 | W 10 | — | SW 20 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 |
| kJ | 44 | 75 | 49 | 68 | 3 | 15 | 3 | 10 | 4 | — | — | 80 | 2 | — | 97 | 29 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 39 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 11 | W 4 | — | WNW 6 | — | WNW 4 | W 3 | W 4 | W 4 | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | — | — | — | 31 | 57 | 8 | — | 24 | — | 6 | 2 | 7 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 0 | 104 | 104 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 104 | 0 | 104 | 104 | 0 | 2 | 16 | 43 | 70 | 104 | 10 |
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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