Ventura County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Zero/Nicholas Canyon County Beach, Ventura 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. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SW swell at 12s — barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 6mph.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with moderate SSE wind around 8mph and fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate E wind around 7mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s 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 10mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle ESE breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
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Zero/Nicholas Canyon is a sandy beach break located along Ventura County's scenic coastline, offering accessible waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The beach faces WNW, making it responsive to west and northwest Pacific swells while benefiting from easterly offshore winds that groom the waves during morning sessions. This spot works best during fall and winter swells when distant storms generate consistent energy that wraps around the Southern California coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Zero/Nicholas Canyon County Beach is 2-3ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is WNW at 1mph 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 Zero/Nicholas Canyon County Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft WNW secondary swell at 9s, a 1ft WSW tertiary swell at 6s. 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 Zero/Nicholas Canyon County Beach is Saturday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Zero/Nicholas Canyon County 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 Zero/Nicholas Canyon County 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.
Zero/Nicholas Canyon County Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Zero/Nicholas Canyon is a sandy beach break located along Ventura County's scenic coastline, offering accessible waves suitable for learners and intermediate surfers. The beach faces WNW, making it responsive to west and northwest Pacific swells while benefiting from easterly offshore winds that groom the waves during morning sessions. This spot works best during fall and winter swells when distant storms generate consistent energy that wraps around the Southern California coast.
The prime season at Zero/Nicholas Canyon County 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 Zero/Nicholas Canyon County Beach include rip currents, crowded beach access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Zero/Nicholas Canyon County 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.
