Florida - West Coast
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Venice Beach, Florida - West Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light E winds.
Mon, May 18: 0–1ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 8mph ENE winds.
Tue, May 19: flat–flatft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 7mph from the ENE.
Wed, May 20: flat–flatft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with light winds out of the ENE.
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Venice Beach on Florida's west coast is a mellow Gulf of Mexico break that comes alive during tropical storm and hurricane season, when distant systems push rideable swells toward its ENE-facing shoreline. Waves here tend to be small and crumbly, rarely exceeding a few feet, making it a welcoming playground for beginners and longboarders looking to log time in the water. The warm Gulf waters and laid-back atmosphere are part of the charm, and Venice's famous shark tooth hunting adds a quirky local flavor to any surf trip.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Venice Beach is 0-1ft with a 3.95s swell period. Wind is SSE at 3mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Venice Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 1ft WNW primary swell at 4s. 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 Venice Beach is Saturday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 1ft waves, a 3.95s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Venice Beach works best with a W swell and E 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 Venice Beach. 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.
Venice Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Venice Beach on Florida's west coast is a mellow Gulf of Mexico break that comes alive during tropical storm and hurricane season, when distant systems push rideable swells toward its ENE-facing shoreline. Waves here tend to be small and crumbly, rarely exceeding a few feet, making it a welcoming playground for beginners and longboarders looking to log time in the water. The warm Gulf waters and laid-back atmosphere are part of the charm, and Venice's famous shark tooth hunting adds a quirky local flavor to any surf trip.
The prime season at Venice Beach is summer, 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 Venice Beach include sharks, rip currents, jellyfish, boat traffic, flat conditions most of year. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Venice Beach 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.
