Orange County, California
Best window·Friday 9AM–12PM·3ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on W swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 5s with light winds out of the S. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, gentle S breeze, fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with light SSW winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
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 2ft with a 13.7s swell period. Wind is SSW at 4mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Surfside Jetty is 2ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.6ft SSW tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
