Surf spot

Huntington Beach

Forecast conditions and map view for Huntington Beach in USA, California, Orange County. Open the interactive surf map to inspect wind, waves, and nearby spots.

Country: USA, California, Orange County
Coordinates: 33.6556, -118.0034

Metric
Metric	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00	09:00	12:00	15:00	18:00	21:00	00:00	03:00	06:00
Wave height (m)	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.7	0.8	1	1.1	1.1	1	1	1	1	1	1.2	1.2	1.1	1	1	0.9	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.8	0.7	0.7	0.6	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.5	0.5	0.5
Wave direction	S	S	SSW	SSW	S	S	S	S	SSW	W	W	W	W	SSW	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	W	SSW	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S	S
Wave period (s)	12.3	12.3	11.3	11.2	11.9	11.4	11.8	11.7	10.8	6.9	6.3	6.1	6.5	10.3	4.6	4.6	5	5.4	5.8	5.8	6	6.1	6	6.1	6.2	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.2	6.3	6.4	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.3	6.2	6.1	6	5.8	7.8	13.2	14.2	14.1	13.9	13.8	13.7	13.3	13.1	12.9	12.6	12.3	13.2	13.1	13
Wave energy (kJ)	156	139	110	102	123	101	113	104	91	44	38	32	35	72	18	28	53	71	80	73	70	71	70	74	102	109	96	81	72	60	52	47	45	49	51	48	46	40	32	27	21	31	74	85	84	90	88	86	95	93	98	92	95	80	79	78
Wind speed (km/h)	20	18.6	20.5	21.1	19.4	13.1	12.8	12.8	15.8	15.5	14.8	17.2	15.9	15.9	14.8	11.6	11.4	8.1	9.2	14.4	13.5	13.5	11.4	13.1	17.7	19.9	20.9	20.5	19.6	17.4	12.1	16.6	13.6	15.6	14.7	14.2	16.2	12.9	11.2	12.1	13.2	11.5	10.3	11.5	14	14.1	11.5	7.9	5.4	6.2	4.8	10.2	15.4	16.1	10.8	9.4
Wind direction	SECross	SECross	SECross	SSECross-on	SCross-on	SCross-on	SCross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross	SECross	SSECross-on	SCross-on	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSECross-on	SSECross	SECross	SCross-on	SCross-on	SWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SSECross-on	SECross	SECross	SECross	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross	SECross	SECross	SCross-on	SSWOnshore	SSWOnshore	SCross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross-on	SSECross	SSECross-on	SSWCross-on	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWOnshore	SWGlassy	SWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	WSWOnshore	SWOnshore

Huntington Beach, California, USA (Orange County) is one of the most famous surf spots in the world, often called “Surf City USA.” It’s a long, open stretch of sand with a classic Southern California beachbreak, drawing beginners, longboarders, and experienced surfers depending on the swell and season.

Surf conditions

Wave type: Mainly beachbreak
Consistency: Very consistent thanks to the exposed coastline
Best swell: Works well with south and southwest swells
Best wind: Usually light offshore or calm morning conditions
Wave quality: Can be fun and playful, but often crowded and can get soft or mushy on smaller days

Skill level

Beginner-friendly: In many sections, yes
Intermediate: Very good for progression
Advanced: Can still offer solid waves when conditions line up, especially around sandbar peaks and during larger swells

Crowd and vibe

Extremely popular, especially near the pier
Expect a busy lineup, especially on weekends and during good conditions
The atmosphere is laid-back, surf-centric, and iconic, with a strong local surf culture

Hazards / things to know

Strong currents can occur
Crowds and etiquette are important
Sandbars can shift often, changing the peaks and quality
Water can be cooler than many first-time visitors expect, so a wetsuit may be needed depending on the season

Best time to surf

Fall often brings the best overall conditions in Southern California
Summer is usually smaller and more beginner-friendly
Winter can bring bigger, more powerful surf

Overall

Huntington Beach is a classic, accessible, and historic surf destination with reliable waves and a vibrant surf scene. It may not always have the most perfect waves, but it delivers a true California surf experience.