Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Venice Beach, Los Angeles 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 Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 8s and gentle E breeze. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 7s with gentle SE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s 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.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 22s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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Venice Beach offers accessible, rolling beach breaks that peel along the sandy bottom, making it an ideal spot for beginners and casual surfers looking to practice fundamentals. The NE-facing beach receives best energy from southern and southwestern swells during fall months, when consistent groundswell arrives from distant Southern Hemisphere storms. This iconic LA beach break can get crowded, especially on weekends, but the mellow, forgiving waves and long sandy breaks provide plenty of space for everyone to find a section to surf.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Venice Beach is 2-3ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is WSW 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 Venice Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.4ft 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 Venice Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 13.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Venice Beach works best with a S 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 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 offers accessible, rolling beach breaks that peel along the sandy bottom, making it an ideal spot for beginners and casual surfers looking to practice fundamentals. The NE-facing beach receives best energy from southern and southwestern swells during fall months, when consistent groundswell arrives from distant Southern Hemisphere storms. This iconic LA beach break can get crowded, especially on weekends, but the mellow, forgiving waves and long sandy breaks provide plenty of space for everyone to find a section to surf.
The prime season at Venice Beach 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 Venice Beach include crowded, localism, strong currents at piers. 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.
