Orange County, California
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light S winds.
First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light S winds.
Best window·Sunday 11AM–2PM·5-7ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with light SSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSE swell at 13s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and fair by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 5–7ft, 14s period, rated Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 5-7ft on S swell at 14s with light winds out of the NW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Mon, Sep 7: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on S swell at 13s and 7mph from the WNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the W and dropping conditions to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Santa Ana River Jetties turns Good.
Check Santa Ana River Jetties from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 5.4s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. 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 1-2ft, produced by a 2.1ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft S tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 5ft waves, a 13.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
