Los Angeles County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Santa Monica Municipal Pier for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Santa Monica Municipal Pier, 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 Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 5mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with light SSE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on WSW swell at 6s with gentle ESE breeze. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WSW swell at 6s and 9mph from the ESE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Santa Monica Municipal Pier offers accessible beach breaks on either side of the iconic pier, with gentle rolling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and beginners. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment, though the break is relatively small and inconsistent compared to more exposed LA County beaches. This is more of a scenic paddle-out experience than a serious surfing destination, attracting a mix of tourists, casual surfers, and families enjoying the famous pier.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 2ft with a 16.7s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 2ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.7ft SW 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 Santa Monica Municipal Pier is Saturday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 3ft waves, a 16.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Santa Monica Municipal Pier works best with a S 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 Monica Municipal Pier. 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 Monica Municipal Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Santa Monica Municipal Pier offers accessible beach breaks on either side of the iconic pier, with gentle rolling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and beginners. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment, though the break is relatively small and inconsistent compared to more exposed LA County beaches. This is more of a scenic paddle-out experience than a serious surfing destination, attracting a mix of tourists, casual surfers, and families enjoying the famous pier.
The prime season at Santa Monica Municipal Pier 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 Monica Municipal Pier include pier pilings, heavy crowds, tourists, inconsistent waves. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Santa Monica Municipal Pier 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.
