Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 54th 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: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, 13mph SSE winds, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, 8mph from the S, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
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54th St. is a user-friendly beach break in Orange County that catches consistent swell and offers approachable waves for developing surfers. With a northeast-facing exposure and sandy bottom, this spot produces forgiving, peeling waves that work well during Southern Hemisphere swell events and autumn swells. The relatively protected nature and gradual beach profile make it a popular choice for lessons and progression, though expect crowds during peak seasons and weekends.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 54th St. is 1-2+ft with a 15.35s 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 54th St. is 1-2+ft, produced by a 1.3ft S primary swell at 13s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft S 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 54th St. is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
54th St. works best with a S 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 54th 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.
54th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 54th St. is a user-friendly beach break in Orange County that catches consistent swell and offers approachable waves for developing surfers. With a northeast-facing exposure and sandy bottom, this spot produces forgiving, peeling waves that work well during Southern Hemisphere swell events and autumn swells. The relatively protected nature and gradual beach profile make it a popular choice for lessons and progression, though expect crowds during peak seasons and weekends.
The prime season at 54th 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 54th St. include crowds, swimmers, piers nearby. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 54th 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.
