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Conditions Guide

How to Read a Surf Report

A surf report tells you everything about current and upcoming wave conditions. Reading one properly means you can pick the best day, the best time, and the best beach before you leave home.

The 5 Key Numbers

Swell Height

3-5 ft

The vertical size of open-ocean swells before they reach shore. Wave face height at the beach is usually 1.5-2x the reported swell height.

1-2 ftSmall, beginner-friendly
3-5 ftFun for intermediates
6-8 ftAdvanced conditions
10+ ftExpert / big wave

Swell Period

14 seconds

Time between successive waves. The CRITICAL metric most beginners ignore. Longer period = better quality waves.

Under 8sWind swell — choppy, disorganized
8-12sModerate — decent quality
12-16sGood groundswell — clean, powerful
16s+Excellent — long-traveled, very organized

Swell Direction

NW 310°

Where the swell is coming from. Determines which beaches get the best waves. Your local break has an ideal swell direction — learn it.

W/NW swellsBest for west-facing beaches (California)
S swellsBest for south-facing (SoCal, Hawaii south shore)
E/NE swellsBest for east-facing (East Coast)

Wind

NE 5mph

Offshore (land to sea) = clean conditions. Onshore (sea to land) = choppy. Light winds (under 5mph) are nearly irrelevant.

OffshoreBest — holds up wave faces
Light/variableGood — minimal effect
Onshore 10+mphPoor — choppy, messy conditions

Tide

Low: 6:04am 0.2ft

Predicted high and low tide times and heights. Different breaks work best at different tides. Mid-tide (incoming) is a safe bet for beach breaks.

Mid-tide incomingUsually best for beach breaks
Extreme lowCan expose rocks — check your spot
Extreme highWaves may break too close to shore

How to Put It All Together

Great day
SW swell 3ft @ 14s, wind E 5mph, mid-tide

Clean overhead waves with light offshore wind. Go surf.

Mediocre day
W swell 2ft @ 8s, wind SW 12mph

Small, choppy wind swell with onshore wind. Fun on a longboard but not worth a long drive.

Skip it
NW swell 1ft @ 6s, wind W 20mph

Tiny, messy, blown-out conditions. Hit the gym instead.

Danger day
NW swell 12ft @ 18s, wind NE 10mph

Very large, powerful swell. Expert-only. Beautiful to watch from shore.

Beginner Tips

  • ✓Focus on swell period first, then height, then wind
  • ✓When in doubt, go when the report says 1-3ft at 10+ seconds with light wind
  • ✓Check multiple days in advance — the best days require planning
  • ✓Different beaches handle the same swell differently — learn your local break
  • ✓Ask local surfers what conditions they look for at your spot

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best swell period for surfing?

Periods above 12 seconds generally produce clean, well-organized waves. 14-18 seconds is excellent. Short periods (under 8 seconds) produce choppy, wind-generated waves that are harder to surf.

What does "offshore" mean in a surf report?

Offshore wind blows from the land toward the sea. It's the ideal wind direction for surfing because it holds up wave faces and creates clean, groomed conditions. Look for light offshore or no wind for the best sessions.

How accurate are surf reports?

Modern surf forecasting is fairly accurate 2-3 days out for swell height and period. Wind forecasts are less reliable beyond 24 hours. Use forecasts for planning but verify with live buoy data and cameras on the day.

What size waves should beginners look for?

Beginners should look for 1-3 foot swells with periods above 8 seconds and light winds. This produces small, manageable waves that are ideal for learning. Avoid anything over 4 feet until you're comfortable catching green waves.

Is it worth surfing in onshore wind?

Onshore wind makes conditions choppier but doesn't make surfing impossible. Light onshore (under 10mph) is usually tolerable. Strong onshore (15+ mph) makes for frustrating conditions. It's still worth going if the swell is good.

Know the Conditions, Find a School

Now that you can read the forecast, find a surf school that picks the best conditions for your lesson.

Find Surf Lessons