Orange County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Afternoon is the play — morning is only fair at 2-3ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at poor - fair.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 17s with light NW winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with light winds out of the S. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle S breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. 1-2ft waves to start the day on S swell at 13s. The SW wind builds to around 10mph by afternoon.
15s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3ft with a 17.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph 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 54th St. is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
