Orange County, California
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light SSE winds.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light SSE winds.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Dolphin Street for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dolphin Street, 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: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light winds out of the SSE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light winds out of the SE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on S swell at 13s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with gentle NW breeze. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and light winds out of the WNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Dolphin Street turns Good.
Check Dolphin Street from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Dolphin Street is a sandy beach break in Huntington Beach that offers consistent, forgiving waves perfect for surfers building their skills. The break faces northeast but works best with southern Pacific swells that wrap around and create peeling waves along the beach. With a sandy bottom and gentle shoulders, this spot provides plenty of room to progress without the intimidation factor of more technical breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dolphin Street is 0-1ft with a 5.3s swell period. Wind is SSE at 5mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Dolphin Street is 0-1ft, 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 Dolphin Street is Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 2ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dolphin Street 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 Dolphin Street. 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.
Dolphin Street is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Dolphin Street is a sandy beach break in Huntington Beach that offers consistent, forgiving waves perfect for surfers building their skills. The break faces northeast but works best with southern Pacific swells that wrap around and create peeling waves along the beach. With a sandy bottom and gentle shoulders, this spot provides plenty of room to progress without the intimidation factor of more technical breaks.
The prime season at Dolphin Street 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 Dolphin Street include crowded during summer months, rip currents possible. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Dolphin Street 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).
