Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Santa Ana River Jetties, Orange 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 3-4ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4ft and poor - fair.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and light NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with gentle SSE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph 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 S swell at 13s with gentle SSE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Santa Ana River Jetties is a dynamic rivermouth break where the Santa Ana River meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and variable wave formations depending on river flow and swell conditions. The jetties themselves provide structure that helps organize swells and create more defined peaks, making it a fun option for intermediate surfers looking to escape some of the region's heavier breaks. Water quality can fluctuate based on river conditions, but when clean swells align with good river flow, this spot offers fun, approachable waves with solid walls.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Santa Ana River Jetties is 3-4ft with a 17.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph 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 Santa Ana River Jetties is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft 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 Santa Ana River Jetties is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Santa Ana River Jetties 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 Santa Ana River Jetties. 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.
Santa Ana River Jetties is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Santa Ana River Jetties is a dynamic rivermouth break where the Santa Ana River meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and variable wave formations depending on river flow and swell conditions. The jetties themselves provide structure that helps organize swells and create more defined peaks, making it a fun option for intermediate surfers looking to escape some of the region's heavier breaks. Water quality can fluctuate based on river conditions, but when clean swells align with good river flow, this spot offers fun, approachable waves with solid walls.
The prime season at Santa Ana River Jetties 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 Santa Ana River Jetties include river currents, sandbars shift frequently, water quality issues after rain, jetty rocks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Santa Ana River Jetties 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.
