Huntington Beach, CA

MapBeginner-friendlyLive · -

7h 12m of daylight left

Sunset at 3:01 AM

Tomorrow > Today

Today scores 7.3, but tomorrow climbs to 8.5 during the 11 AM–12 PM window. Plan around it.

5-day

GOWorth it

6.0/ 10 · Good

Best time to ride

2 AM–3 AM

Next 12 hours

Rideable and likely fun.

Good swell period
Tide window opening

Conditions

Wave

1.6 ft→

Sweet spot 2–6 ft

Period

14s↓

Sweet spot 8–14 s

Wind

7 mph S→

Onshore

Tide

Next · Low 05:39 AM

Session plan

Worth it

Rideable and likely fun.

Huntington Beach, CA · Beginner-friendly

Peak window

2 AM–3 AM

Avg score 6.9/10

Why this score

Tide will shift conditions soon.

Wave height1.6 ft

Swell period14s

WindOnshore 7 mph

Current: 1.6 ft @ 14s • 7 mph wind. wave height is okay but not doing the heavy lifting period is strong, adding good push to the sets light wind is keeping things clean wind direction is fighting the banks and shape

Next 12 hours

Peak window 2 AM–3 AM

Today's read·Auto-generated from the forecast

Workable waist-high sets on a 14-second period. Best chance is the 2 AM–3 AM window before the low tide at 5:39 AM.

8 PM

6.01.6ft

9 PM

6.01.6ft

10 PM

6.01.6ft

11 PM

6.01.6ft

12 AM

6.01.6ft

1 AM

6.01.6ft

2 AM

6.91.6ft

3 AM

6.91.6ft

4 AM

7.51.6ft

5 AM

7.51.7ft

6 AM

7.51.7ft

7 AM

7.51.7ft

Sunrise 12:54 PM Sunset 3:01 AM

Next 5 days

Best window

Best this week

10.0/10

Monday, Jul 20 • 9 AM–10 AM

Wave 3.0 ft

Period 11s

Wind max 9 mph

Temp 65–77°F

Saturday, Jul 18

7.3 / 10

Best: 9 AM–10 AM

Wave: 1.6 ft

Period: 14s

Wind max: 9 mph

Sunday, Jul 19

8.5 / 10

Best: 11 AM–12 PM

Wave: 2.0 ft

Period: 10s

Wind max: 8 mph

Monday, Jul 20

10.0 / 10

Best: 9 AM–10 AM

Wave: 3.0 ft

Period: 11s

Wind max: 9 mph

Tuesday, Jul 21

8.8 / 10

Best: 6 PM–7 PM

Wave: 2.5 ft

Period: 12s

Wind max: 9 mph

Wednesday, Jul 22

8.1 / 10

Best: 9 AM–10 AM

Wave: 2.4 ft

Period: 15s

Wind max: 18 mph

Day	Best window	Score	Wave	Period	Wind max	Temp
Saturday, Jul 18	9 AM–10 AM	7.3	1.6 ft	14s	9 mph	68–76°F
Sunday, Jul 19	11 AM–12 PM	8.5	2.0 ft	10s	8 mph	67–76°F
Monday, Jul 20	9 AM–10 AM	10.0	3.0 ft	11s	9 mph	65–77°F
Tuesday, Jul 21	6 PM–7 PM	8.8	2.5 ft	12s	9 mph	71–78°F
Wednesday, Jul 22	9 AM–10 AM	8.1	2.4 ft	15s	18 mph	72–78°F

Spot intelWetsuit, hazards & notes

Good for beginners today

Beginner basics

Where to go

Stay several hundred yards north or south of the pier where surf schools cluster and the inside reform is mellow. Pick a stretch with lifeguards visible and other learners already in the water.

What to avoid

Don't paddle near the pier pylons — the rip grabs you and pulls you straight into them, and fishing lines hang off the pier. Avoid summer afternoons when every rental in Orange County is in the lineup.

Best beginner conditions

Knee-to-chest S or SW swell, light E (offshore) wind, mid tide. Summer mornings before 9am are gold — clean, soft, and uncrowded.

New to surfing? Read the beginner guide →

Wetsuit

Summer setup

Season-based baseline. Water temp varies week to week.

Full guide

Boardshorts / Bikini

Or 2mm top on windy mornings

2mm Springsuit / Shorty

If you get cold easily

Spot notes