Orange County, California
First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with gentle S breeze.
First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with gentle S breeze.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·7-8ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 6s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with light winds out of the S. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and very poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. 2-3ft waves to start the day on W swell at 5s. The WSW wind builds to around 11mph by afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 5–7ft, 15s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on SSE swell at 13s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and fair by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 7–8ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 7-8ft on S swell at 14s with light NW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Mon, Sep 7: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on S swell at 13s with 7mph from the WNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check 17th St. from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 2-3ft with a 5.4s swell period. Wind is S at 6mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 17th St. is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft S tertiary swell at 13s. 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 10 AM to 1 PM with 7ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
