Orange County, California
Best window·Saturday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Santa Ana River Jetties, Orange 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: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 19s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 4s and gentle SSW breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with gentle S breeze and 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.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Santa Ana River Jetties is a dynamic rivermouth break where the Santa Ana River meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and variable wave formations depending on river flow and swell conditions. The jetties themselves provide structure that helps organize swells and create more defined peaks, making it a fun option for intermediate surfers looking to escape some of the region's heavier breaks. Water quality can fluctuate based on river conditions, but when clean swells align with good river flow, this spot offers fun, approachable waves with solid walls.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Santa Ana River Jetties is 2-3+ft with a 13.85s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph 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 Santa Ana River Jetties is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft W secondary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Santa Ana River Jetties is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.2s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Santa Ana River Jetties 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 Santa Ana River Jetties. 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.
Santa Ana River Jetties is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Santa Ana River Jetties is a dynamic rivermouth break where the Santa Ana River meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and variable wave formations depending on river flow and swell conditions. The jetties themselves provide structure that helps organize swells and create more defined peaks, making it a fun option for intermediate surfers looking to escape some of the region's heavier breaks. Water quality can fluctuate based on river conditions, but when clean swells align with good river flow, this spot offers fun, approachable waves with solid walls.
The prime season at Santa Ana River Jetties 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 Santa Ana River Jetties include river currents, sandbars shift frequently, water quality issues after rain, jetty rocks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Santa Ana River Jetties 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.
