Ventura County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ormond Beach, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on WSW swell at 13s — gentle WSW breeze.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 17s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 6mph and fair by then.
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 barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and light ESE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ormond Beach is a sandy beach break in Ventura County that offers a mellow, accessible introduction to Southern California surfing. The beach's northwesterly-facing orientation captures Pacific swells well during fall and winter months, producing soft, rolling waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The consistent sand bottom provides a forgiving surface for practicing fundamentals, though conditions can vary seasonally with beach erosion and sand migration.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ormond Beach is 2-3ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is SW 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 Ormond Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.5ft WNW tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Ormond Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ormond Beach works best with a W 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 Ormond Beach. 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.
Ormond Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ormond Beach is a sandy beach break in Ventura County that offers a mellow, accessible introduction to Southern California surfing. The beach's northwesterly-facing orientation captures Pacific swells well during fall and winter months, producing soft, rolling waves ideal for learners and intermediate surfers. The consistent sand bottom provides a forgiving surface for practicing fundamentals, though conditions can vary seasonally with beach erosion and sand migration.
The prime season at Ormond Beach 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 Ormond Beach include strong currents during high swell, scattered rocks near jetties. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ormond Beach 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.
