Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at 72nd Place for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 72nd Place, 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. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and glassy conditions. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph from the SE.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
72nd Place is a mellow beach break in Huntington Beach that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for surfers building their skills. The consistent sandy bottom provides a safe learning environment with gradually sloping banks that produce soft, mushy waves ideal for beginners and cruisy intermediate sessions. This spot catches swell from the south and southwest while benefiting from offshore northeast winds during morning sessions, making it a reliable choice for accessible surfing in Orange County.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 72nd Place is 2ft with a 16.95s swell period. Wind is WSW at 10mph 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 72nd Place is 2ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 14s, a 1ft WSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 72nd Place is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 16s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
72nd Place 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 72nd Place. 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.
72nd Place is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 72nd Place is a mellow beach break in Huntington Beach that offers forgiving, rolling waves perfect for surfers building their skills. The consistent sandy bottom provides a safe learning environment with gradually sloping banks that produce soft, mushy waves ideal for beginners and cruisy intermediate sessions. This spot catches swell from the south and southwest while benefiting from offshore northeast winds during morning sessions, making it a reliable choice for accessible surfing in Orange County.
The prime season at 72nd Place 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 72nd Place include crowded during peak hours, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 72nd Place 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.
