Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Leo Carrillo, 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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light SSW winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 10s with 9mph from the ESE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with 7mph E winds.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the ESE. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
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Leo Carrillo is a scenic right-hand reef/point break near the Ventura County line where waves peel along Sequit Point's rock formation. One of the most photogenic spots on the Malibu coast, with sea caves and tide pools at the base of the point. This is primarily a summer south-swell spot that works best at mid-tide on a rising tide. The inside sections have sand bottom for more forgiving conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Leo Carrillo is 1-2+ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is WNW at 1mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Leo Carrillo is 1-2+ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft WNW secondary swell at 9s, a 1ft WSW tertiary swell at 6s. 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 Leo Carrillo is Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 3ft waves, a 15.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Leo Carrillo works best with a SSW swell and N 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 Leo Carrillo. 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.
Leo Carrillo is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Leo Carrillo is a scenic right-hand reef/point break near the Ventura County line where waves peel along Sequit Point's rock formation. One of the most photogenic spots on the Malibu coast, with sea caves and tide pools at the base of the point. This is primarily a summer south-swell spot that works best at mid-tide on a rising tide. The inside sections have sand bottom for more forgiving conditions.
The prime season at Leo Carrillo is summer, 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 Leo Carrillo include rocks at the point, sea urchins, rip currents, tide-dependent. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Leo Carrillo 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.
