Ventura County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on W swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 12s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SE winds.
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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 3-4ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is NE at 1mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ormond Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.9ft W primary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft 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 Ormond Beach is Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 13.45s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
