Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 17th St. for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 17th St., 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 17s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 5mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on W swell at 6s and 11mph from the SE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor with 11mph from the SE.
17th Street is a classic Orange County beach break that catches plenty of swell throughout the year, with a sandy bottom that creates fun, forgiving waves ideal for learning. The NE-facing orientation means it picks up southern hemisphere swells beautifully in fall and winter, while summer can bring consistent smaller waves from local wind patterns. Being a popular urban beach break near Huntington Beach, expect crowded lineups especially on weekends, but the mellow conditions and multiple peaks along the beach make it accessible for surfers of all levels.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 17th St. is 2ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 17th St. is 2ft, 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 17th St. is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.85s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
17th St. 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 17th St.. 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.
17th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 17th Street is a classic Orange County beach break that catches plenty of swell throughout the year, with a sandy bottom that creates fun, forgiving waves ideal for learning. The NE-facing orientation means it picks up southern hemisphere swells beautifully in fall and winter, while summer can bring consistent smaller waves from local wind patterns. Being a popular urban beach break near Huntington Beach, expect crowded lineups especially on weekends, but the mellow conditions and multiple peaks along the beach make it accessible for surfers of all levels.
The prime season at 17th St. 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 17th St. include localism, crowds, pier pilings nearby. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 17th St. 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.
