Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Surfside Jetty, 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: flat–flatft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — Flat and very poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 9mph.
Mon, May 11: flat–flatft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — Flat and very poor with light NNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Tue, May 12: flat–flatft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — Flat waves and very poor conditions with light S winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
Wed, May 13: flat–flatft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — Flat and mostly very poor with light winds out of the S. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Thu, May 14: flat–flatft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — Flat and very poor conditions with light SSE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Surfside Jetty is a sandy beach break in Orange County that benefits from the protective jetty structure, which helps shape and organize incoming swells into rideable waves. The spot works best during fall and winter swells when southern and southwestern Pacific swells wrap around the Southern California coast, creating consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. The relatively mellow conditions and beach break nature make this an accessible spot for developing surfers looking to practice their fundamentals in a forgiving environment.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Surfside Jetty is Flat with a 17.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 8mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Surfside Jetty is Flat, produced by a 1.2ft WSW primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.6ft SSW 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 Surfside Jetty is Monday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 0ft waves, a 16.4s swell period, and conditions rated Very Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Surfside Jetty 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 Surfside Jetty. 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.
Surfside Jetty is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Surfside Jetty is a sandy beach break in Orange County that benefits from the protective jetty structure, which helps shape and organize incoming swells into rideable waves. The spot works best during fall and winter swells when southern and southwestern Pacific swells wrap around the Southern California coast, creating consistent peaks along the sandy bottom. The relatively mellow conditions and beach break nature make this an accessible spot for developing surfers looking to practice their fundamentals in a forgiving environment.
The prime season at Surfside Jetty 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 Surfside Jetty include jetty, crowded during swell, occasional strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Surfside Jetty 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.
