Orange County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bolsa Chica, 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 Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 17s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 5mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and poor - fair with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly poor - fair with 11mph from the SE.
Bolsa Chica is a long, sandy beach break in Orange County that offers mellow, rolling waves ideal for learning and progression. The consistent beachbreak setup produces forgiving waves across a wide stretch of beach, making it accessible for surfers of all levels. The proximity to urban Orange County and quality sand banks create a popular but crowded local scene, especially on weekends and during swell season.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bolsa Chica is 2-3ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 10mph 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 Bolsa Chica is 2-3ft, 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 Bolsa Chica is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.85s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bolsa Chica 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 Bolsa Chica. 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.
Bolsa Chica is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Bolsa Chica is a long, sandy beach break in Orange County that offers mellow, rolling waves ideal for learning and progression. The consistent beachbreak setup produces forgiving waves across a wide stretch of beach, making it accessible for surfers of all levels. The proximity to urban Orange County and quality sand banks create a popular but crowded local scene, especially on weekends and during swell season.
The prime season at Bolsa Chica 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 Bolsa Chica include heavy crowds, localism, swimmers and beach users. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bolsa Chica 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.
