Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 17th St. for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 5s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on W swell at 5s with gentle SSW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
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 light SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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 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 17th St. is 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 17th St. is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 13.9s 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
