Orange County, California
Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light winds out of the SSE.
Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light winds out of the SSE.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·2-3ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 6s and gentle SSE breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s with gentle SE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 13s with calm winds. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on S swell at 14s with gentle WNW breeze — nothing amazing but surfable.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with gentle WNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when 72nd Place turns Good.
Check 72nd Place from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 5.3s swell period. Wind is SSE at 5mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 72nd Place is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.2ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft 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 72nd Place is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
