Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Westward 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: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 13s — glassy conditions. Expect the wind to bump up to around 6mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3ft with light SSE winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 7s with 7mph from the E. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 6s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle ESE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
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Westward Beach offers accessible, forgiving waves on a wide sandy beach with a NE-facing exposure that picks up southwest swell effectively. The gradual slope and soft sand bottom make it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediates looking to progress in a mellow environment. This popular Malibu area beach delivers consistent peaks throughout the year, with fall bringing the most reliable swell periods.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Westward Beach is 2-3ft with a 13.4s swell period. Wind is NW 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 Westward Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft WSW secondary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft S 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 Westward Beach is Saturday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 3ft waves, a 15.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Westward Beach works best with a SW 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 Westward 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.
Westward Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Westward Beach offers accessible, forgiving waves on a wide sandy beach with a NE-facing exposure that picks up southwest swell effectively. The gradual slope and soft sand bottom make it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediates looking to progress in a mellow environment. This popular Malibu area beach delivers consistent peaks throughout the year, with fall bringing the most reliable swell periods.
The prime season at Westward 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 Westward Beach include crowded during peak times, occasional rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Westward 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.
