Los Angeles County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Palos Verdes Cove for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Palos Verdes Cove, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with glassy conditions. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 6mph and poor by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on WSW swell at 6s with 8mph from the ESE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 10mph from the ESE.
Palos Verdes Cove is a scenic rocky point break nestled along the dramatic cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, offering peeling waves that wrap around the cove's natural geography. The break benefits from protected cove conditions and a rocky bottom that creates consistent, well-defined walls, making it a solid option for intermediate surfers looking to escape the busier LA County breaks. Fall swells from Southern Hemisphere storms provide the most reliable surf, while summer offers smaller, more manageable conditions for progression.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Palos Verdes Cove is 1-2ft with a 16.85s swell period. Wind is WNW 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 Palos Verdes Cove is 1-2ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 15s, a 0.7ft WSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Palos Verdes Cove is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Palos Verdes Cove works best with a SSW 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 Palos Verdes Cove. 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.
Palos Verdes Cove is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Palos Verdes Cove is a scenic rocky point break nestled along the dramatic cliffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, offering peeling waves that wrap around the cove's natural geography. The break benefits from protected cove conditions and a rocky bottom that creates consistent, well-defined walls, making it a solid option for intermediate surfers looking to escape the busier LA County breaks. Fall swells from Southern Hemisphere storms provide the most reliable surf, while summer offers smaller, more manageable conditions for progression.
The prime season at Palos Verdes Cove 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 Palos Verdes Cove include rocks, strong currents, sea urchins, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Palos Verdes Cove 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.
