Ventura County, California
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, moderate WSW wind around 7mph, poor conditions.
The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, moderate WSW wind around 7mph, poor conditions.
Best window·Sunday 8AM–11AM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Emma Wood, Ventura 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. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with moderate WSW wind around 8mph. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and 7mph NE winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 13s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on S swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 13s and light winds out of the WNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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 Emma Wood turns Good.
Check Emma Wood from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Emma Wood is a mellow beach break located along Ventura's scenic coastline, offering consistent, user-friendly waves that peel across sandy shores. The spot faces northeast and picks up northwest swells effectively, making it ideal for surfers looking to improve their skills in forgiving conditions. With easy beach access and relatively uncrowded waves compared to nearby spots, Emma Wood provides a welcoming atmosphere for progression.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Emma Wood is 1-2ft with a 10.4s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Emma Wood is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Emma Wood is Sunday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 4ft waves, a 14.1s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Emma Wood works best with a NW 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 Emma Wood. 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.
Emma Wood is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Emma Wood is a mellow beach break located along Ventura's scenic coastline, offering consistent, user-friendly waves that peel across sandy shores. The spot faces northeast and picks up northwest swells effectively, making it ideal for surfers looking to improve their skills in forgiving conditions. With easy beach access and relatively uncrowded waves compared to nearby spots, Emma Wood provides a welcoming atmosphere for progression.
The prime season at Emma Wood 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 Emma Wood include occasional strong currents, beach closures during high runoff. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Emma Wood 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).
