Swell Intel

Santa Ana River Jetties Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

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Orange County, California

54th St.1-2ftNewport Beach1-2ftMagnolia St.1-2ft
Santa Ana River Jetties surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
10.9s
Wind
10mph
S / Gusts 15mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.7ft @ 3sSSE
Secondary
0.7ft @ 10sS
Tertiary
0.5ft @ 11sSSW
Wind Swell
0.5ft @ 2sWNW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle N breeze.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|4-6mph N
Thu, Apr 24-5ft
Poor - Fair

First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on S swell at 10s with moderate NW wind around 8mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|8-9mph WNW
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Sat
4ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

14s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Santa Ana River Jetties Surf Spot Guide

Break
Rivermouth
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

River currentsSandbars shift frequentlyWater quality issues after rainJetty rocks

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Santa Ana River Jetties Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Santa Ana River Jetties?
The current wave height at Santa Ana River Jetties is 1-2ft with a 10.9s swell period. Wind is S at 10mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Santa Ana River Jetties surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Santa Ana River Jetties?
The current breaking wave height at Santa Ana River Jetties is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.7ft SSE primary swell at 3s, a 0.7ft S secondary swell at 10s, a 0.5ft SSW tertiary swell at 11s, a 0.5ft WNW wind swell swell at 2s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Santa Ana River Jetties?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Santa Ana River Jetties is Thursday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 6ft waves, a 14.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.