Orange County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 6s with gentle SSW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with gentle ESE breeze. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 7s with 11mph SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle SSW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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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 2-3ft with a 15.15s swell period. Wind is SSW at 4mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 72nd Place is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.6ft W primary swell at 6s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 13.5s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
