Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 13th Street for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on W swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light S winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on W swell at 5s and gentle SE breeze. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 5s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
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 13.75s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. 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 1.2ft W primary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
