Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Surfside Jetty, 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: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s and light winds out of the SSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 7s with 7mph from the ESE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 11mph from the SE.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light SSW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
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Surfside Jetty is a sandy beach break in Orange County that benefits from the protective jetty structure, which helps shape and organize incoming swells into rideable waves. The spot works best during fall and winter swells when southern and southwestern Pacific swells wrap around the Southern California coast, creating consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. The relatively mellow conditions and beach break nature make this an accessible spot for developing surfers looking to practice their fundamentals in a forgiving environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Surfside Jetty is 2-3ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is S 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 Surfside Jetty is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.1ft W primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft 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 Surfside Jetty is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 7.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Surfside Jetty 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 Surfside Jetty. 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.
Surfside Jetty is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Surfside Jetty is a sandy beach break in Orange County that benefits from the protective jetty structure, which helps shape and organize incoming swells into rideable waves. The spot works best during fall and winter swells when southern and southwestern Pacific swells wrap around the Southern California coast, creating consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. The relatively mellow conditions and beach break nature make this an accessible spot for developing surfers looking to practice their fundamentals in a forgiving environment.
The prime season at Surfside Jetty 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 Surfside Jetty include jetty, crowded during swell, occasional strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Surfside Jetty 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.
