Surf Forecasts:
Thousand Steps surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with 627 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 29 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 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 (Aug 29) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m 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 1.1m 16s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 8PM. 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 (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Thousand Steps over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me break down Thousand Steps for you. We’re looking at a reef break that sees swell really well and breaks pretty much all the time. Water temp right now is reading about 75°, which is almost 8° warmer than normal—feels like summer soup out there.
So, the whole 16-day run here is a bit of a bummer, honestly. It opens on Saturday, August 29th. Morning might have some clean-ish 3-foot SSW groundswell with a nice 17-second interval, but a light onshore wind keeps it from being perfect. The energy is decent at 650, but the call is just "marginal." By the afternoon, the wind turns more cross-on and it gets bumpy.
Sunday, August 30th is totally blown out, and that starts a long stretch of days where the surf is either poor or just barely ridable. The swell stays weak, mostly under 3 feet, and the wind stays onshore or cross-onshore from the west or southwest. Choppy, messy conditions.
The first real flicker of life comes on Thursday, September 3rd. You get a 3-foot SSW swell, a really long 18-second period, and a light onshore wind. Energy is 544. Still, it’s only "marginal."
The only day that even gets close to being a standout is the morning of Saturday, September 5th. Swell is a clean 3 feet from the SSW, 16-second period. The wind is super light from the WSW, just barely cross-on. Combined energy sits at 647—that’s a solid moderate push. Even then, the forecast calls it "marginal," not epic. The afternoon runs it with a stronger west-northwest wind.
From there, it just fades. The second week, September 7th and beyond, is a sad story. Swell shrinks every day, down to 2 feet by September 13th. Winds stay annoying and the energy numbers drop like a rock, ending up at 144. It’s looking flat and blown out.
Look, this break is very consistent, so a run this bad isn't the norm. For kite surfers, those choppy, windy afternoons might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer? It’s a waiting game. Swell never gets over 4 feet, so it’s not dangerous for an intermediate surfer, but it’s just not good. Keep your expectations in the dirt.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Wed afternoon, min 22°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 635 | 604 | 417 | 330 | 261 | 233 | 184 | 121 | 116 | 188 | 179 | 240 | 213 | 199 | 203 | 221 | 553 | 448 | 475 | 487 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:32PM1.96m | 11:07AM1.97m | 11:13PM1.79m | 11:35AM2.01m | 11:59PM1.59m | 12:08PM2.03m | 1:01AM1.39m | 12:51PM2.03m | 2:44AM1.23m | 1:50PM2.00m | 6:09AM1.25m | 3:15PM1.99m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:33PM0.70m | 4:49AM0.50m | 5:16PM0.66m | 5:12AM0.64m | 6:05PM0.64m | 5:36AM0.79m | 7:06PM0.65m | 6:00AM0.95m | 8:27PM0.65m | 6:26AM1.10m | 10:09PM0.59m | 7:03AM1.25m | 11:39PM0.45m | |||||||
 |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — |
 | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:17 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:14 | — | — | 7:12 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 23 |
Feels °C | 28 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | W 8 | SSW 14 | W 7 | SSW 14 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 11 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | W 6 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | W 7 |
| kJ | 635 | 604 | 110 | 330 | 96 | 233 | 184 | 121 | 116 | 188 | 179 | 240 | 213 | 199 | 203 | 153 | 63 | 448 | 475 | 123 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | W 7 | SSW 15 | W 7 | SSW 14 | S 13 | SSW 14 | W 5 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 5 | SW 16 | W 6 | W 6 | W 6 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | SW 11 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 11 | 104 | 417 | 63 | 261 | 166 | 168 | 20 | 99 | 50 | 80 | 14 | 127 | 42 | 37 | 26 | 553 | 238 | 126 | 487 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | S 8 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | S 13 | W 6 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | W 5 | W 10 | W 10 | SW 16 | SSW 20 | SSW 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 18 | SSW 11 | W 6 | S 12 | SW 10 |
| kJ | 7 | 11 | 34 | 50 | 123 | 37 | 14 | 116 | 14 | 2 | 2 | 133 | 40 | 119 | 154 | 221 | 64 | 26 | 12 | 52 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | — | — | W 8 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 5 | W 5 | — | W 6 | WNW 6 | — | W 6 | — | — | W 6 | — |
| kJ | 28 | — | — | 138 | — | — | 25 | — | — | 19 | 24 | — | 23 | 56 | — | 49 | — | — | 25 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 104 | 13 | 70 | 125 | 2 | 70 | 104 | 0 | 65 | 104 | 7 | 7 | 104 | 0 | 104 | 104 | 0 | 55 | 104 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Orange County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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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