Los Angeles County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·2ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Venice Pier, Northside, 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. The sweet spot is around midday — 3-4ft waves, barely a breath of wind, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 15s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with light winds out of the ESE.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 7s with 9mph from the ESE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Venice Pier Northside is a classic Southern California beach break that offers approachable waves along the sandy bottom near the iconic Venice Pier. This mellow, user-friendly beach break attracts plenty of learners and casual surfers, with soft, rolling waves that peel nicely when swell wraps around from southern and southwestern directions. The shallow sandy bottom and proximity to Venice Beach's vibrant boardwalk culture make it an accessible entry point for beginners, though expect plenty of company, especially during summer months.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Venice Pier, Northside is 2ft with a 16.9s swell period. Wind is W at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Venice Pier, Northside is 2ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft WSW 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 Venice Pier, Northside is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Venice Pier, Northside 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 Venice Pier, Northside. 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.
Venice Pier, Northside is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Venice Pier Northside is a classic Southern California beach break that offers approachable waves along the sandy bottom near the iconic Venice Pier. This mellow, user-friendly beach break attracts plenty of learners and casual surfers, with soft, rolling waves that peel nicely when swell wraps around from southern and southwestern directions. The shallow sandy bottom and proximity to Venice Beach's vibrant boardwalk culture make it an accessible entry point for beginners, though expect plenty of company, especially during summer months.
The prime season at Venice Pier, Northside 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 Venice Pier, Northside include pier pilings, heavy crowds, swimmers. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Venice Pier, Northside 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.
