Los Angeles County, California
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 0-1ft with 9mph from the SW.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 0-1ft with 9mph from the SW.
Best window·Sunday 9AM–12PM·2-3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Santa Monica Municipal Pier, 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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s with 9mph SSW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 18s with 8mph ENE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 14s with light winds out of the W. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on S swell at 13s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Santa Monica Municipal Pier turns Good.
Check Santa Monica Municipal Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Santa Monica Municipal Pier offers accessible beach breaks on either side of the iconic pier, with gentle rolling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and beginners. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment, though the break is relatively small and inconsistent compared to more exposed LA County beaches. This is more of a scenic paddle-out experience than a serious surfing destination, attracting a mix of tourists, casual surfers, and families enjoying the famous pier.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 0-1ft with a 10.4s swell period. Wind is SSW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.5ft SSW primary swell at 10s, a 1.4ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1ft SSW 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 Santa Monica Municipal Pier is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Santa Monica Municipal Pier 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 Santa Monica Municipal Pier. 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 Monica Municipal Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Santa Monica Municipal Pier offers accessible beach breaks on either side of the iconic pier, with gentle rolling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and beginners. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment, though the break is relatively small and inconsistent compared to more exposed LA County beaches. This is more of a scenic paddle-out experience than a serious surfing destination, attracting a mix of tourists, casual surfers, and families enjoying the famous pier.
The prime season at Santa Monica Municipal Pier 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 Monica Municipal Pier include pier pilings, heavy crowds, tourists, inconsistent waves. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Santa Monica Municipal Pier 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).
