Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 17th St., 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: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle SW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Patience pays off today — morning is very poor with 0-1ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 2-3ft and poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 0–1ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 12mph SE winds.
Tue, May 19: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
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17th Street is a classic Orange County beach break that catches plenty of swell throughout the year, with a sandy bottom that creates fun, forgiving waves ideal for learning. The NE-facing orientation means it picks up southern hemisphere swells beautifully in fall and winter, while summer can bring consistent smaller waves from local wind patterns. Being a popular urban beach break near Huntington Beach, expect crowded lineups especially on weekends, but the mellow conditions and multiple peaks along the beach make it accessible for surfers of all levels.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 17th St. is 1-2ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is W at 2mph 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 17th St. 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 17th St. is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 2ft waves, a 13.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
17th St. 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 17th St.. 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.
17th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 17th Street is a classic Orange County beach break that catches plenty of swell throughout the year, with a sandy bottom that creates fun, forgiving waves ideal for learning. The NE-facing orientation means it picks up southern hemisphere swells beautifully in fall and winter, while summer can bring consistent smaller waves from local wind patterns. Being a popular urban beach break near Huntington Beach, expect crowded lineups especially on weekends, but the mellow conditions and multiple peaks along the beach make it accessible for surfers of all levels.
The prime season at 17th St. 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 17th St. include localism, crowds, pier pilings nearby. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 17th St. 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.
