Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Strands Point, Orange 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: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with light S winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 8s and 14mph out of the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 7s with moderate SE wind around 8mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 12s with barely a breath of wind. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 13s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Strands Point is a rocky point break in Orange County that peels consistently along its rocky bottom, offering fun, medium-length rides with a natural point formation that lines up well for autumn and winter swells. The break benefits from a south to south-southwest swell direction while westerly winds provide ideal offshore conditions, making it a solid alternative to more crowded nearby breaks. The rocky composition creates reliable wave shape and performance, though it requires some water sense navigating around the boulders and rocky outcrops.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Strands Point is 4-5ft with a 15.1s swell period. Wind is SSE 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 Strands Point is 4-5ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 15s, a 1.2ft W secondary swell at 7s, a 1ft S tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Strands Point is Saturday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 5ft waves, a 14.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Strands Point 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 Strands Point. 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.
Strands Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Strands Point is a rocky point break in Orange County that peels consistently along its rocky bottom, offering fun, medium-length rides with a natural point formation that lines up well for autumn and winter swells. The break benefits from a south to south-southwest swell direction while westerly winds provide ideal offshore conditions, making it a solid alternative to more crowded nearby breaks. The rocky composition creates reliable wave shape and performance, though it requires some water sense navigating around the boulders and rocky outcrops.
The prime season at Strands Point 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 Strands Point include rocks, rocky bottom, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Strands Point 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.
