Onshore Wind

Onshore wind blows from the ocean toward shore, knocking down the face of waves and producing choppy, disorganized surf. Onshore conditions are what most surfers try to avoid: waves break early, close out, and lose definition. Light onshore (under 10 mph) is tolerable at beach breaks but usually ruins reef and point setups. Strong onshore (15+ mph) turns even a clean groundswell into mush. Onshore wind is typically strongest in the afternoon as the land heats up and the sea breeze develops — which is why early morning sessions, or "dawn patrol", are prized by surfers looking for clean conditions.