Orange County, California
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 7mph SSE winds.
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 7mph SSE winds.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·4-6ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Aliso Creek, 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, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 7mph SSE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 18s with light winds out of the ENE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3+ft all day on S swell at 13s with barely a breath of wind — nothing amazing but surfable. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Sun, Sep 6: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on S swell at 14s with light winds out of the WNW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the NW. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
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 Aliso Creek turns Good.
Check Aliso Creek from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Aliso Creek is a sandy beach break in Laguna Beach that offers mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The beach's protected cove setup creates consistent peaks during Southern Hemisphere swells, with the creek mouth adding a unique freshwater character to the lineup. The gentle slopes and sandy bottom make it a welcoming spot for surfers of all levels looking to escape the more crowded Orange County breaks nearby.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Aliso Creek is 1-2ft with a 10.4s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Aliso Creek is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 10s, a 1.7ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s, a 0.9ft SSE wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Aliso Creek is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 5ft waves, a 13.9s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Aliso Creek 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 Aliso Creek. 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.
Aliso Creek is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Aliso Creek is a sandy beach break in Laguna Beach that offers mellow, forgiving waves ideal for learning and progression. The beach's protected cove setup creates consistent peaks during Southern Hemisphere swells, with the creek mouth adding a unique freshwater character to the lineup. The gentle slopes and sandy bottom make it a welcoming spot for surfers of all levels looking to escape the more crowded Orange County breaks nearby.
The prime season at Aliso Creek 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 Aliso Creek include creek currents, occasional rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Aliso Creek 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).
