Swell Intel

Santa Monica Municipal Pier Surf Forecast, Los Angeles County, California

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Los Angeles County, California

Bay Street0-1ftVenice Beach1-2ftVenice Pier, Northside1-2ft
Santa Monica Municipal Pier surf spot

Current Conditions

Very Poor
Wave Height
0-1ft
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
14.4s
Wind
12mph
WSW / Gusts 21mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.7ft @ 11sSSW
Secondary
0.5ft @ 14sSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 310-1ft
Very Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 10-1ft
Very Poor

Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light winds out of the WNW.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s S|2-6mph NW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Fair

Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.

6am9am12pm3pm
5s WSW|3-6mph E
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Forecast Charts

Santa Monica Municipal Pier Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
S
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

Pier pilingsHeavy crowdsTouristsInconsistent waves

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

Santa Monica Municipal Pier Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Santa Monica Municipal Pier?
The current wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 0-1ft with a 14.4s swell period. Wind is WSW at 12mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Santa Monica Municipal Pier surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier?
The current breaking wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.7ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 14s. 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 Monica Municipal Pier?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Santa Monica Municipal Pier is Thursday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.