Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3ft and fair early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at poor - fair.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 17s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Later in the day looks more promising — 1-2ft and poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the SSE. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
15s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is WSW 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 Santa Monica Municipal Pier is 2-3ft, produced by a 0.9ft WSW primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.5ft 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 Monica Municipal Pier is Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM with 3ft waves, a 17.65s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
