Swell Intel

Bolsa Chica Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

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Orange County, California

Bolsa Chica JettiesFlatHB CliffsFlatAnderson St.0-1ft
Bolsa Chica surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
10.95s
Wind
9mph
SSW / Gusts 15mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.7ft @ 11sSSW
Secondary
0.5ft @ 3sSSE
Tertiary
0.4ft @ 14sSW
Wind Swell
0.5ft @ 2sWSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and poor conditions with gentle NNE breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s SSW|5-6mph W
Thu, Apr 23-4ft
Poor

Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 1-2ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4ft and fair.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s SSW|6-8mph WNW
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Sat
3ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

8s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Bolsa Chica Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

Bolsa Chica is a long, sandy beach break in Orange County that offers mellow, rolling waves ideal for learning and progression. The consistent beachbreak setup produces forgiving waves across a wide stretch of beach, making it accessible for surfers of all levels. The proximity to urban Orange County and quality sand banks create a popular but crowded local scene, especially on weekends and during swell season.

Heavy crowdsLocalismSwimmers and beach users

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Bolsa Chica Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Bolsa Chica?
The current wave height at Bolsa Chica is 1-2ft with a 10.95s swell period. Wind is SSW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Bolsa Chica surf forecast?
Our Bolsa Chica 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Bolsa Chica?
The current breaking wave height at Bolsa Chica is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.7ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 0.5ft SSE secondary swell at 3s, a 0.4ft SW tertiary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft WSW 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.
When is the best time to surf Bolsa Chica?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Bolsa Chica is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 4ft waves, a 5.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.