Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 13th Street for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 13th Street, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 6mph.
Thu, Jun 25: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Fri, Jun 26: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 11mph from the ESE.
Sun, Jun 28: 0–1ft, 17s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
13th Street is a popular sandy beach break in Huntington Beach that works best during fall and winter swells when Southern Hemisphere groundswell reaches Southern California. The beach offers forgiving, peaky waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers, with consistent peaks breaking across the broad sandy bottom. Expect crowds year-round at this accessible, well-maintained beach break that's perfect for learning or cruising fun, small waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 13th Street is 0-1ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 11mph 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 13th Street is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 13th Street is Wednesday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 1ft waves, a 16.75s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
13th Street works best with a SSW 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 13th Street. 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.
13th Street is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 13th Street is a popular sandy beach break in Huntington Beach that works best during fall and winter swells when Southern Hemisphere groundswell reaches Southern California. The beach offers forgiving, peaky waves ideal for beginners and intermediate surfers, with consistent peaks breaking across the broad sandy bottom. Expect crowds year-round at this accessible, well-maintained beach break that's perfect for learning or cruising fun, small waves.
The prime season at 13th Street 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 13th Street include heavy crowds, swimmers and beach traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 13th Street 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
