Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 7s with barely a breath of wind. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 8s with moderate SE wind around 7mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 7s with 10mph from the SE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 22s 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.
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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 2-3ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is ESE at 1mph 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 Palos Verdes Cove is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.4ft 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 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 13.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
