Los Angeles County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Lunada Bay, 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.
Wed, Jun 24: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with calm winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WSW swell at 6s with 9mph from the ESE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate ESE wind around 10mph.
Lunada Bay is one of the best reef breaks in California — a powerful right-hander on the Palos Verdes Peninsula that holds waves from 4 to 30 feet. Historically guarded by the notorious Lunada Bay Boys, whose decades of intimidation and violence against visitors led to lawsuits settled in 2024. Access requires descending a cliff trail. The wave is bowly and powerful on WNW winter swells. Despite the settlement, approach with awareness.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Lunada Bay is 2-4+ft with a 16.7s swell period. Wind is W at 7mph 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 Lunada Bay is 2-4+ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.9ft 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 Lunada Bay is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Lunada Bay works best with a WNW swell and E 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 Lunada Bay. 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.
Lunada Bay is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Lunada Bay is one of the best reef breaks in California — a powerful right-hander on the Palos Verdes Peninsula that holds waves from 4 to 30 feet. Historically guarded by the notorious Lunada Bay Boys, whose decades of intimidation and violence against visitors led to lawsuits settled in 2024. Access requires descending a cliff trail. The wave is bowly and powerful on WNW winter swells. Despite the settlement, approach with awareness.
The prime season at Lunada Bay is winter, 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 Lunada Bay include sharp reef, cliff access, powerful waves, historical localism (settled 2024), long paddle out. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Lunada Bay 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.
