Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 8s and light winds out of the E. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with light SE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s 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 11mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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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 2-3ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is WSW 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 Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.1ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft WSW secondary swell at 6s, a 0.7ft W tertiary swell at 9s. 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 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 13.45s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
