Surf Report for Los Angeles California

Surf Report for Los Angeles California - Tuesday - 26 May 2026

A significant south-southwest swell has arrived along the Los Angeles coastline, and today's surf conditions are among the best the city has seen in some time. Waves are running 3.9 feet at a 15-second period — that long period is the critical detail, signalling organised, ground swell energy that will stand up cleanly when it hits the shallows. Malibu is the standout break today. The south-southwest direction wraps perfectly into the cove, and the long period means the point will be offering drawn-out, peeling rides. Early risers will score the best sessions before the crowds arrive. Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach are both in play, with chest-to-shoulder high sets and the occasional bigger wave. Manhattan Beach tends to offer cleaner conditions further south, with solid rights on offer. Santa Monica is the pick for longboarders. The swell direction creates softer, more drawn-out waves up that stretch — not as punchy, but fun and very rideable on something wide. Water temperature is 61.7°F — cold enough to be serious. A 3/2 wetsuit is the minimum; if you run cold, go 4/3. Numb hands will end your session early. The wind forecast is the key variable today. Offshore or light winds in the morning are your window. Onshore winds typically push in through midday along the LA coast, chopping up the surface. Paddle out early. Board call: shortboard or mid-length for Malibu and Manhattan Beach, longboard or funboard for the Santa Monica stretch. A YesWee production. This episode includes AI-generated content.

Surf Report for Los Angeles California - Monday - 25 May 2026

A long-period SSW swell is running through the Los Angeles coastline this morning, and while three feet might not turn heads on its own, fifteen seconds of period changes the equation entirely. These are real, organised lines — not wind chop — and they're standing up properly as they hit the shallower water along the coast. Malibu is the move today. First Point is purpose-built for a south-southwest swell with this kind of period. Expect sets to wrap around and deliver genuine length on the ride. Get there early — the morning window will be less crowded, but not for long. Venice Beach and Santa Monica are workable but inconsistent. The swell needs more size to connect those breaks properly. A longboard or fun shape is the right call, and patience between sets is essential. Manhattan Beach is in a similar spot — the pier break has enough energy to run a solid morning session, with real power when the sets arrive. Water temperature sits at 61.9°F — cold for late May. A 3/2 wetsuit is the minimum; anyone staying out longer than an hour should consider a hood or booties. Wind data isn't available this morning, but a long-period swell like this always rewards an early session before afternoon onshore winds soften the faces. Bottom line: if you're heading anywhere today, make it Malibu, and go now. This episode includes AI-generated content.

Surf Report for Los Angeles California - Sunday - 24 May 2026

A long-period south swell is running along the Los Angeles coastline today, and the numbers tell a more interesting story than the headline height suggests. At two-and-a-half feet with a fifteen-second period, this swell is travelling deep through the water column and breaking with noticeably more power than its size implies. It's not a big day — but it's a real one. The swell direction sits at 202 degrees, south-southwest, which means spots with southern exposure are going to pick this up best. Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach are your go-to breaks today. Santa Monica Pier could see some fun, wrapping set waves. Malibu may struggle with this angle, though the Point can occasionally find a corner on south swells. Board choice matters on a day like this. A mid-length or longboard will catch far more waves and let you enjoy the ride. Shortboarders can make it work, but expect long waits between sets. Go with volume. Water temperature is sitting at 61.9°F — full suit territory, and boots if you run cold. Spring in LA, the Pacific is not warm yet. Wind looks clean right now, with no strong surface chop showing at the buoy. Early sessions will be the best of the day. The sea breeze typically builds through mid-morning and conditions deteriorate into the afternoon as the onshore fills in. Get in the water early. Bottom line: if you have a longboard and a free morning in Los Angeles, this swell is worth the paddle. Small but real — the period makes the difference. This episode includes AI-generated content.

Surf Report for Los Angeles California - Saturday - 23 May 2026

Don't let the two-foot reading fool you. Today's Los Angeles surf is all about period, not size — a 14-second south-southwest swell is pushing real energy through the water, producing wave faces that stand up and break with genuine shape. That's the difference between a fun morning on the longboard and shore slop, and today you've got the former. Malibu is the clear standout. Long-period south-southwest swells wrap beautifully into the point, and even at this modest size you'll find runners worth riding. Grab the longboard and keep your expectations realistic — it's a cruisy, enjoyable session, not a pumping day. Manhattan Beach and Venice are smaller and softer but still rideable on the right equipment. Santa Monica is the weakest option today; the break simply doesn't have enough to work with. Water temperature is sitting at 63°F — warm enough to feel comfortable, but a 3/2 wetsuit is still the call. Don't let May sunshine convince you otherwise. Timing matters most today. Get out before the sea breeze builds and conditions should be fairly clean. Once that onshore flow kicks in, the shape will deteriorate quickly. The early session is the session. Bottom line for Los Angeles surfers: it's not a swell you'd call anyone about, but if you're a longboarder heading to Malibu this morning, you'll find something worth the paddle-out. Right board, right break, right time of day. This episode includes AI-generated content.

Surf Report for Los Angeles California - Friday - 22 May 2026

(00:00:00) Surf Report for Los Angeles California - Friday - 22 May 2026 (00:00:47) Honor Roll Collapse Statewide (00:01:20) Post-Rain 72-Hour Rule (00:01:53) Bluff Cove — LA's Cleanest Break (00:02:12) Summer Window and What's Next Before you load the board and head to the beach this Memorial Day weekend, there's critical water quality news every LA surfer needs to hear. Heal the Bay just released its annual Beach Report Card, and Santa Monica Pier has earned an F grade for the fifth consecutive year — ranking it the second most polluted beach in all of California. This isn't a post-storm anomaly. Chronic storm drain and aging sewer infrastructure means bacterial pollution persists even in dry conditions. No fix is coming before the holiday weekend. The statewide picture is equally sobering. California's beach honor roll collapsed from 62 beaches last year to just 21 this year, driven almost entirely by heavy winter rainfall and urban runoff. Ninety-one percent of beaches showed degraded water quality during the wet season — a stark contrast to the 91% that earn safe grades in dry summer months. For every LA break right now, the practical rule is firm: wait 72 hours after any rainfall before entering the water. This applies to Venice Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Malibu. The closer you are to a pier or storm drain outlet, the longer you should wait. The one bright spot in LA County: Bluff Cove in Palos Verdes Estates earned A-plus grades across every monitoring period and is the only LA County beach on the statewide honor roll. Worth the drive if clean water is your priority. The dry season window — April through October — will bring significant improvement as runoff slows. Until then, download the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card app for real-time grades by location before every session. This episode includes AI-generated content.