Thousand Steps Surf Break

Lat Long: 33.50° N 117.74° W

Thousand Steps Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 4 am 24 Jul 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Thousand Steps sea temperature is
21.9° C
2.7° 

Thousand Steps surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Thousand Steps surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, S swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 31 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 15s period, S swell with 1,200 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 25 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 20s 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 (Jul 25) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 20s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 6s. 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 1.6m 15s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 31) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sat 25th Jul)3ft (0.9m) 20s
Best Surf 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)5ft (1.6m) 15s
Most Powerful 5AM (Fri 31st Jul)5ft (1.6m) 15s

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 on the menu for the next couple of weeks.

Overall, it’s a bit of a slow start for the first week, but there’s a sneaky little pulse brewing that could make things interesting right at the end of July and into the first of August. We’ve got one main spot to focus on here, and that’s Thousand Steps. This is a reef setup, so it’s got that potential for a better shape when the swell lines up, but with the wind we’ve got early on, it’s a bit of a tease.

The water is sitting at 71°F, which is a solid 5°F warmer than what we’d normally expect for this time of year. That’s a real treat, so you won’t need a thick wetsuit.

The first few days are a bit of a grind. From Friday the 24th through to Thursday the 30th, the swell is small, mostly hanging around 2ft to 4ft from the SW or SSW. The period is pretty short, between 16 and 24 seconds, so while it’s better than flat, the cross-onshore wind is a constant buzzkill, keeping things choppy and messy. The combined energy sits in the moderate range, around 500 to 863, which tells you there’s some energy there, but it’s not doing much for us. Honestly, it’s marginal at best, and you’d be scratching for a ripple.

Now, here’s where it gets a little more interesting. Friday the 31st of July and Saturday the 1st of August, we see a noticeable bump. Swell size jumps to 5ft to 6ft from the S, with a period dropping to 13-15 seconds. The combined energy cranks up to between 916 and 1325, which is a solid moderate to strong pulse. The wind looks a little better too, with some light offshore or light cross-onshore conditions. This is the standout window. The swell is a bit on the bigger side for the reef, so it’s going to be more for the intermediate crew; the shorey might be a handful for beginners. The direction is SW, which is the optimum for this break, so the lines should set up nicely. Just keep in mind, the crowds are a possibility here, so get in early.

After that pulse, things drop off again quickly. From Sunday the 2nd of August onwards, the swell fades back to 1ft to 2ft with energy levels dropping below 400, and the wind stays cross-onshore. It’s a pretty poor run for the rest of the outlook, with nothing to recommend.

So, to wrap it up, keep your powder dry through the first week. The best bet is the morning of Friday the 31st of July or the morning of Saturday the 1st of August at Thousand Steps. That’s your window for a few clean, fun ones.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sat morning, min 21°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Mon morning, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light.

Friday
24
Saturday
25
Sunday
26
Monday
27
Tuesday
28
Wednesday
29
Thursday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
0
1
2
1
2
3
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
24
0.5
SW
24
0.7
SW
21
0.9
SW
21
0.7
SW
21
1.1
SW
19
0.9
SSW
19
0.9
SSW
18
1
SW
18
1.1
SW
18
1
SSW
19
1
SSW
17
1.2
SSW
17
1.1
SW
17
1.1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
1
SSE
16
1.5
S
15
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
444
271
467
664
450
863
657
565
614
727
719
608
807
640
651
392
481
469
344
527
1019
Wind (km/h)
15
S
15
S
10
SSE
10
SSW
10
SSW
5
S
10
S
10
SW
15
SSE
10
S
10
SSW
10
SSE
15
S
10
S
10
SSE
15
SSE
15
S
10
SE
10
S
10
SSW
5
S
Wind State
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
High Tide
8:33AM1.38m
6:32PM2.00m
9:05AM1.44m
7:15PM2.08m
9:31AM1.48m
7:55PM2.16m
9:56AM1.52m
8:31PM2.22m
10:21AM1.56m
9:06PM2.25m
10:46AM1.59m
9:39PM2.24m
11:11AM1.63m
10:12PM2.18m
Low Tide
12:01PM1.25m
2:13AM0.40m
12:57PM1.23m
2:47AM0.31m
1:41PM1.19m
3:19AM0.24m
2:18PM1.13m
3:49AM0.20m
2:54PM1.08m
4:18AM0.19m
3:29PM1.03m
4:45AM0.21m
4:06PM1.00m
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:56
5:58
5:58
5:58
6:00
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
7:55
7:55
7:54
7:53
7:53
7:52
7:52
 mm
Temp °C
22
22
21
23
23
23
23
23
22
23
23
22
23
23
22
23
23
21
22
22
21
Feels °C
23
22
22
24
24
26
24
24
24
24
24
23
23
24
23
23
23
22
23
23
22
  • Map Icons:
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  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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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