Surf Forecasts:
Thousand Steps surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 6 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s period, S swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 7 Sep, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 14s period, SSW swell with 1,139 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 6 Sep, 11AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 14s 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 (Sep 06) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Thousand Steps in the next 16 days are 1.7m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 07) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 5s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 06) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11AM (Sun 6th Sep) | 5ft (1.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thousand Steps over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for us.
Right off the bat, the next few days are a bit of a mixed bag. The standout session is definitely Sunday morning, the 6th of September. That’s when we get a solid 5ft south swell rolling in at Thousand Steps (reef), with a cracking 14-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. The wind is cross-offshore from the NNW at 9 mph, which is going to groom those lines beautifully. The water is sitting at 74°, which is about 7° warmer than usual for this time of year, so you’re in for a very pleasant, clean surf. The combined energy is sitting at 1033 (moderate wave energy), meaning there’s plenty of push for experienced intermediates. This is the one to circle.
The rest of the first week is a bit of a struggle. Saturday afternoon is a write-off with cross-on wind and only 4ft, and despite a decent swell size on Sunday afternoon and Monday, the wind is cross-on, making things choppy and messy. By Tuesday, the swell drops to 4ft, and the wind stays stubbornly cross-on, so it’s a grind.
From Wednesday the 9th through to the end of the 16-day window, the surf drops off significantly. You’re looking at knee-to-waist high waves mostly under 3ft, with periods that are all over the place. There’s a long-period 16 to 19-second swell hanging around, but the energy is weak (mostly under 500 in the combined energy), and the wind is either cross-on or light onshore, so it’s poor surf conditions. The 19th of September sees a bit of a pulse with 5ft from the west, but it’s a short-period 7-second wind swell, and the wind is questionable, so it’s not a goer.
Overall, Sunday morning the 6th is your only true standout. The rest of the run is a long gap of poor to marginal conditions, with no real hope for a clean wave until the second week, and even then, it’s nothing to write home about.
Stay patient, and get out there on Sunday morning.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Tue morning, min 22°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed morning, min 22°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | ||||||||||||||
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) | S 14 | SSW 15 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 537 | 494 | 999 | 929 | 606 | 915 | 874 | 411 | 308 | 408 | 194 | 127 | 219 | 298 | 414 | 376 | 358 | 349 | 262 | 217 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 10:03AM2.05m | 10:06PM2.06m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 4:03PM0.53m | 4:17AM0.44m | |||||||
 |  |  | | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — |
 | 7:10 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:06 | — | — | 7:04 | — | — | 7:02 | — |
mm | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 26 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 27 | 24 | 23 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 14 | S 13 | S 14 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 10 | SSW 10 | SSW 9 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | W 6 |
| kJ | 537 | 404 | 999 | 929 | 606 | 915 | 874 | 411 | 308 | 408 | 194 | 105 | 71 | 298 | 414 | 376 | 358 | 349 | 262 | 41 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WSW 10 | WNW 6 | S 12 | SW 19 | SW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 8 | SW 9 | W 6 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | SW 15 |
| kJ | 392 | 494 | 19 | 6 | 411 | 58 | 3 | 277 | 261 | 81 | 11 | 96 | 219 | 39 | 38 | 15 | 42 | 29 | 20 | 217 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | WSW 11 | SW 20 | SW 11 | WSW 11 | SW 10 | — | SW 18 | W 5 | S 22 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 8 | SW 8 | S 11 | SW 7 | WSW 15 |
| kJ | 68 | 46 | 15 | 18 | 11 | 4 | — | 51 | 4 | 9 | 130 | 127 | 85 | 82 | 47 | 35 | 15 | 20 | 7 | 43 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 11 | — | — | WNW 4 | W 6 | W 4 | W 4 | WNW 5 | W 4 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 57 | — | — | 7 | 11 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 10 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 7 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 104 | 7 | 104 | 104 | 0 | 16 | 171 | 43 | 70 | 84 | 22 | 70 | 70 | 22 |
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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