Ventura County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and light winds out of the WSW.
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and light winds out of the WSW.
Best window·Sunday 9AM–12PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ormond Beach, 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, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SW swell at 9s with gentle WSW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 8mph from the E. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSE swell at 13s with gentle E breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3+ft all day on S swell at 14s with 7mph from the NW — nothing amazing but surfable.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3+ft on S swell at 13s with moderate NW wind around 8mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Ormond Beach turns Good.
Check Ormond Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Ormond Beach is a sandy beach break in Ventura County that offers a mellow, accessible introduction to Southern California surfing. The beach's northwesterly-facing orientation captures Pacific swells well during fall and winter months, producing soft, rolling waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The consistent sand bottom provides a forgiving surface for practicing fundamentals, though conditions can vary seasonally with beach erosion and sand migration.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ormond Beach is 1-2ft with a 10.5s swell period. Wind is E at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ormond Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 1.2ft WNW wind swell swell at 5s, 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 Ormond Beach is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 14s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ormond Beach works best with a W 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 Ormond 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.
Ormond Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ormond Beach is a sandy beach break in Ventura County that offers a mellow, accessible introduction to Southern California surfing. The beach's northwesterly-facing orientation captures Pacific swells well during fall and winter months, producing soft, rolling waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The consistent sand bottom provides a forgiving surface for practicing fundamentals, though conditions can vary seasonally with beach erosion and sand migration.
The prime season at Ormond 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 Ormond Beach include strong currents during high swell, scattered rocks near jetties. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ormond 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).
