Ventura County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Silver Strand, Ventura 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, 12s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on W swell at 9s with light winds out of the WSW.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on W swell at 10s and calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 6mph.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light ESE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 1-2ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor conditions.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Silver Strand is a sandy beach break located in Ventura County that catches northeast-facing swells, making it a natural funnel for local swell energy. The wide sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment with rolling, user-friendly waves that peel consistently across the beach. This spot works best during fall and winter when Pacific swells wrap around the coast, offering accessible waves for surfers of all levels.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Silver Strand is 2-3ft with a 9s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph 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 Silver Strand is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.6ft W primary swell at 9s, a 1.1ft W secondary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 Silver Strand is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Silver Strand works best with a SW 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 Silver Strand. 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.
Silver Strand is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Silver Strand is a sandy beach break located in Ventura County that catches northeast-facing swells, making it a natural funnel for local swell energy. The wide sandy bottom provides a forgiving learning environment with rolling, user-friendly waves that peel consistently across the beach. This spot works best during fall and winter when Pacific swells wrap around the coast, offering accessible waves for surfers of all levels.
The prime season at Silver Strand 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 Silver Strand include beach erosion, occasional shore break. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Silver Strand 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.
