Los Angeles County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Palos Verdes Cove for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 18s 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 11mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light SSW winds.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2ft waves, light S winds, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SE breeze.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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 1ft with a 13.75s swell period. Wind is NW at 5mph 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 Palos Verdes Cove is 1ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.55s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
