Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Strands Point, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSW swell at 18s with moderate W wind around 7mph — nothing amazing but surfable.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Steady 2-3ft waves on offer on SSW swell at 17s — light winds out of the NW.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with light winds out of the S. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with light winds out of the SE. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at poor - fair.
15s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Strands Point is a rocky point break in Orange County that peels consistently along its rocky bottom, offering fun, medium-length rides with a natural point formation that lines up well for autumn and winter swells. The break benefits from a south to south-southwest swell direction while westerly winds provide ideal offshore conditions, making it a solid alternative to more crowded nearby breaks. The rocky composition creates reliable wave shape and performance, though it requires some water sense navigating around the boulders and rocky outcrops.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Strands Point is 2-3+ft with a 17.75s swell period. Wind is W 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 Strands Point is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft 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 Strands Point is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 14.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Strands Point 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 Strands Point. 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.
Strands Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Strands Point is a rocky point break in Orange County that peels consistently along its rocky bottom, offering fun, medium-length rides with a natural point formation that lines up well for autumn and winter swells. The break benefits from a south to south-southwest swell direction while westerly winds provide ideal offshore conditions, making it a solid alternative to more crowded nearby breaks. The rocky composition creates reliable wave shape and performance, though it requires some water sense navigating around the boulders and rocky outcrops.
The prime season at Strands Point 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 Strands Point include rocks, rocky bottom, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Strands Point 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.
