Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Leo Carrillo, Los Angeles 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. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSW swell at 18s with light WSW winds — nothing amazing but surfable. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and calm winds.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and light ESE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with light ESE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and gentle ESE breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Leo Carrillo is a scenic right-hand reef/point break near the Ventura County line where waves peel along Sequit Point's rock formation. One of the most photogenic spots on the Malibu coast, with sea caves and tide pools at the base of the point. This is primarily a summer south-swell spot that works best at mid-tide on a rising tide. The inside sections have sand bottom for more forgiving conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Leo Carrillo is 2-3ft with a 17.75s swell period. Wind is SW at 3mph 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 Leo Carrillo is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft 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 Leo Carrillo is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Leo Carrillo works best with a SSW swell and N 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 Leo Carrillo. 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.
Leo Carrillo is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Leo Carrillo is a scenic right-hand reef/point break near the Ventura County line where waves peel along Sequit Point's rock formation. One of the most photogenic spots on the Malibu coast, with sea caves and tide pools at the base of the point. This is primarily a summer south-swell spot that works best at mid-tide on a rising tide. The inside sections have sand bottom for more forgiving conditions.
The prime season at Leo Carrillo is summer, 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 Leo Carrillo include rocks at the point, sea urchins, rip currents, tide-dependent. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Leo Carrillo 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.
