Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Venice Pier, Northside, 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. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 8s with light E winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with gentle SE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 20s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
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Venice Pier Northside is a classic Southern California beach break that offers approachable waves along the sandy bottom near the iconic Venice Pier. This mellow, user-friendly beach break attracts plenty of learners and casual surfers, with soft, rolling waves that peel nicely when swell wraps around from southern and southwestern directions. The shallow sandy bottom and proximity to Venice Beach's vibrant boardwalk culture make it an accessible entry point for beginners, though expect plenty of company, especially during summer months.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Venice Pier, Northside is 2-3+ft with a 15.1s swell period. Wind is W at 3mph 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 Pier, Northside is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Pier, Northside is Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Venice Pier, Northside 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 Pier, Northside. 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 Pier, Northside is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Venice Pier Northside is a classic Southern California beach break that offers approachable waves along the sandy bottom near the iconic Venice Pier. This mellow, user-friendly beach break attracts plenty of learners and casual surfers, with soft, rolling waves that peel nicely when swell wraps around from southern and southwestern directions. The shallow sandy bottom and proximity to Venice Beach's vibrant boardwalk culture make it an accessible entry point for beginners, though expect plenty of company, especially during summer months.
The prime season at Venice Pier, Northside 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 Pier, Northside include pier pilings, heavy crowds, swimmers. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Venice Pier, Northside 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.
