Ventura County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Emma Wood for the cleanest windows.
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on W swell at 5s with barely a breath of wind. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on W swell at 5s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle SE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on W swell at 6s with light winds out of the SSE. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on W swell at 6s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
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 1-2ft with a 16.85s swell period. Wind is WNW at 9mph 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 Emma Wood is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft W primary swell at 4s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft SSW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
