Ventura County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Emma Wood, Ventura 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: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Steady 4-5ft waves on offer on W swell at 9s — light W winds.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft all day on W swell at 10s with glassy conditions — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 6mph.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 11s with light ESE winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Emma Wood is a mellow beach break located along Ventura's scenic coastline, offering consistent, user-friendly waves that peel across sandy shores. The spot faces northeast and picks up northwest swells effectively, making it ideal for surfers looking to improve their skills in forgiving conditions. With easy beach access and relatively uncrowded waves compared to nearby spots, Emma Wood provides a welcoming atmosphere for progression.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Emma Wood is 4-5ft with a 9s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph 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 Emma Wood is 4-5ft, produced by a 2.6ft W primary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft W secondary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 Emma Wood is Monday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Emma Wood works best with a NW 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 Emma Wood. 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.
Emma Wood is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Emma Wood is a mellow beach break located along Ventura's scenic coastline, offering consistent, user-friendly waves that peel across sandy shores. The spot faces northeast and picks up northwest swells effectively, making it ideal for surfers looking to improve their skills in forgiving conditions. With easy beach access and relatively uncrowded waves compared to nearby spots, Emma Wood provides a welcoming atmosphere for progression.
The prime season at Emma Wood 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 Emma Wood include occasional strong currents, beach closures during high runoff. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Emma Wood 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.
