Los Angeles County, California
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with moderate SW wind around 7mph.
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with moderate SW wind around 7mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Burnout Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Burnout Beach, Los Angeles 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, 12s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with moderate SW wind around 7mph. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very poor by then.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 18s with light ESE winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with glassy conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 13s with light winds out of the W. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and very poor 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 Burnout Beach turns Good.
Check Burnout Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Burnout Beach is a sandy beach break in Los Angeles County that faces east, making it ideal for catching southern and southwestern swell during fall and winter swells. The mellow, forgiving waves here are perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to hone their skills in a relaxed setting. With its sandy bottom and consistent beach break characteristics, this spot offers a fun, accessible introduction to Southern California surfing.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Burnout Beach is 1-2ft with a 5.1s swell period. Wind is SW 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 Burnout Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.5ft 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 Burnout Beach is Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 2ft waves, a 14.2s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Burnout Beach works best with a S swell and E 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 Burnout Beach. 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.
Burnout Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Burnout Beach is a sandy beach break in Los Angeles County that faces east, making it ideal for catching southern and southwestern swell during fall and winter swells. The mellow, forgiving waves here are perfect for beginners and intermediate surfers looking to hone their skills in a relaxed setting. With its sandy bottom and consistent beach break characteristics, this spot offers a fun, accessible introduction to Southern California surfing.
The prime season at Burnout Beach 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 Burnout Beach include localism, occasional strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Burnout Beach 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).
