Los Angeles County, California
Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with 7mph SW winds.
Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with 7mph SW winds.
Best window·Sunday 1PM–4PM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Palos Verdes Cove, 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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on W swell at 5s with 7mph SW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 18s with gentle ESE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on S swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 13s and gentle W breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and very poor by then.
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 Palos Verdes Cove turns Good.
Check Palos Verdes Cove from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Palos Verdes Cove is a scenic rocky point break nestled along the dramatic cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, offering peeling waves that wrap around the cove's natural geography. The break benefits from protected cove conditions and a rocky bottom that creates consistent, well-defined walls, making it a solid option for intermediate surfers looking to escape the busier LA County breaks. Fall swells from Southern Hemisphere storms provide the most reliable surf, while summer offers smaller, more manageable conditions for progression.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Palos Verdes Cove is 1-2ft with a 5.1s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Palos Verdes Cove is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.5ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, 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 Palos Verdes Cove is Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 2ft waves, a 14s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Palos Verdes Cove works best with a SSW 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 Palos Verdes Cove. 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.
Palos Verdes Cove is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Palos Verdes Cove is a scenic rocky point break nestled along the dramatic cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, offering peeling waves that wrap around the cove's natural geography. The break benefits from protected cove conditions and a rocky bottom that creates consistent, well-defined walls, making it a solid option for intermediate surfers looking to escape the busier LA County breaks. Fall swells from Southern Hemisphere storms provide the most reliable surf, while summer offers smaller, more manageable conditions for progression.
The prime season at Palos Verdes Cove 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 Palos Verdes Cove include rocks, strong currents, sea urchins, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Palos Verdes Cove 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).
