Orange County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 54th 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 17s with calm winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and glassy conditions. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s and moderate SE wind around 9mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph from the SSE.
54th St. is a user-friendly beach break in Orange County that catches consistent swell and offers approachable waves for developing surfers. With a northeast-facing exposure and sandy bottom, this spot produces forgiving, peeling waves that work well during Southern Hemisphere swell events and autumn swells. The relatively protected nature and gradual beach profile make it a popular choice for lessons and progression, though expect crowds during peak seasons and weekends.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 54th St. is 2-4+ft with a 16.9s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at 54th St. is 2-4+ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft W wind swell swell at 4s. 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 54th St. is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
54th St. 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 54th 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.
54th St. is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 54th St. is a user-friendly beach break in Orange County that catches consistent swell and offers approachable waves for developing surfers. With a northeast-facing exposure and sandy bottom, this spot produces forgiving, peeling waves that work well during Southern Hemisphere swell events and autumn swells. The relatively protected nature and gradual beach profile make it a popular choice for lessons and progression, though expect crowds during peak seasons and weekends.
The prime season at 54th 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 54th St. include crowds, swimmers, piers nearby. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 54th 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.
