Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salt Creek, Orange 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. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and light winds out of the S. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 8s with 14mph SSE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on W swell at 8s with 8mph SE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
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Salt Creek is a classic Dana Point surf spot featuring "The Point" — a left-hand point break with a small, competitive takeoff zone that comes alive on solid south swells. The south end produces quality lefts peeling over rock and reef, while closer to the beach you'll find A-frame peaks and shorebreak sections over sand. One of the most crowded waves in south Orange County, with a fiercely competitive local crew. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salt Creek is 3-4ft with a 15.35s swell period. Wind is SSE at 2mph 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 Salt Creek is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.5ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 1ft 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 Salt Creek is Saturday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 4ft waves, a 15.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salt Creek works best with a S 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 Salt Creek. 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.
Salt Creek is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Salt Creek is a classic Dana Point surf spot featuring "The Point" — a left-hand point break with a small, competitive takeoff zone that comes alive on solid south swells. The south end produces quality lefts peeling over rock and reef, while closer to the beach you'll find A-frame peaks and shorebreak sections over sand. One of the most crowded waves in south Orange County, with a fiercely competitive local crew. NE Santa Ana winds create classic offshore conditions.
The prime season at Salt Creek is summer, 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 Salt Creek include rocks, crowds, competitive lineup, strong currents, shallow reef. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salt Creek 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.
