Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 13th Street, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SSW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light ESE winds.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SSW breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
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13th Street is a popular sandy beach break in Huntington Beach that works best during fall and winter swells when Southern Hemisphere groundswell reaches Southern California. The beach offers forgiving, peaky waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers, with consistent peaks breaking across the broad sandy bottom. Expect crowds year-round at this accessible, well-maintained beach break that's perfect for learning or cruising fun, small waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 13th Street is 1-2ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is SSE at 3mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 13th Street is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.1ft W primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf 13th Street is Saturday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.3s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
13th Street works best with a SSW swell and NE winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at 13th Street. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
13th Street is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 13th Street is a popular sandy beach break in Huntington Beach that works best during fall and winter swells when Southern Hemisphere groundswell reaches Southern California. The beach offers forgiving, peaky waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers, with consistent peaks breaking across the broad sandy bottom. Expect crowds year-round at this accessible, well-maintained beach break that's perfect for learning or cruising fun, small waves.
The prime season at 13th Street is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at 13th Street include heavy crowds, swimmers and beach traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 13th Street forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
