Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on WSW swell at 9s — 7mph from the SW.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and gentle NNW breeze.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the S. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with gentle SSE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3ft with a 17.6s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph 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 Palos Verdes Cove is 2-3ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 17.6s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
