Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 72nd Place for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 72nd Place, 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 calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on W swell at 5s and light S winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on W swell at 5s and light SE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with light winds out of the S. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
72nd Place is a mellow beach break in Huntington Beach that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for surfers building their skills. The consistent sandy bottom provides a safe learning environment with gradually sloping banks that produce soft, mushy waves ideal for beginners and cruisy intermediate sessions. This spot catches swell from the south and southwest while benefiting from offshore northeast winds during morning sessions, making it a reliable choice for accessible surfing in Orange County.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 72nd Place 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 72nd Place 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 72nd Place is Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
72nd Place 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 72nd Place. 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.
72nd Place is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 72nd Place is a mellow beach break in Huntington Beach that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for surfers building their skills. The consistent sandy bottom provides a safe learning environment with gradually sloping banks that produce soft, mushy waves ideal for beginners and cruisy intermediate sessions. This spot catches swell from the south and southwest while benefiting from offshore northeast winds during morning sessions, making it a reliable choice for accessible surfing in Orange County.
The prime season at 72nd Place 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 72nd Place include crowded during peak hours, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 72nd Place 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.
