Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Huntington Pier, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on S swell at 13s and gentle SW breeze. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly poor - fair with moderate SE wind around 8mph.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with 12mph from the SE.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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Huntington Pier is the self-proclaimed "Surf City USA" and host of the US Open of Surfing, one of the most famous competition venues in the sport. The pier creates sandbars on both sides that produce fast, peaky beach break waves — the north side is more forgiving for beginners, while the south side and main pier area attract intermediate-to-advanced surfers seeking barrel opportunities. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions that groom the wave faces to perfection.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Huntington Pier is 3-4ft with a 15.35s swell period. Wind is W at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Huntington Pier is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.3ft S primary swell at 13s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft S 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 Huntington Pier is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 4ft waves, a 15.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Huntington Pier 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 Huntington Pier. 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.
Huntington Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Huntington Pier is the self-proclaimed "Surf City USA" and host of the US Open of Surfing, one of the most famous competition venues in the sport. The pier creates sandbars on both sides that produce fast, peaky beach break waves — the north side is more forgiving for beginners, while the south side and main pier area attract intermediate-to-advanced surfers seeking barrel opportunities. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions that groom the wave faces to perfection.
The prime season at Huntington Pier 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 Huntington Pier include pier pilings, heavy crowds, localism during peak times. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Huntington Pier 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
