Huntington Beach • Surf Spot Statistics

Best Surf Season (November - March)

The heart of the North Pacific swell window lines up with the offshore wind season at Huntington Beach. From November through March, the average period sits in the 12-13s range, driven by recurring extratropical lows in the Gulf of Alaska. The beach faces southwest, so the dominant W and WSW swells are right in the strike zone, wrapping nicely into the cove. More importantly, the frequency of offshore NE/ENE winds jumps dramatically: December and January boast ideal wind over 50% of the time, while November, February, and March still hold 42%, 42%, and 28%. These are the months where long-period lines stack up, 0.8-1.0m (2.5-3.5ft) on average, but with plenty of 1-1.5m (3-5ft) sets and clean walls off the pier.

Fair Surf Season (April & October)

In the shoulder months, the swell window remains alive with some of the longest periods of the year (13-13.4s) and the swell direction shifts to more SW and WSW. However, the wind equation starts to break down. April sees onshore SW/WSW winds take over nearly 56% of the time, while October has a better offshore mix (24% ideal) and can serve up clean, wally autumn surf with water temps still in the high 60s F. These are months of shifting weather patterns, when a persistent eddy or a tropical storm track can spoil or spark the lineup.

Low Surf Season (May - September)

The summer lull is real at Huntington. From May through September, the North Pacific storm track retreats and the average swell generation shifts to more distant Southern Hemisphere sources, providing long-period (13.5-13.9s) but undersized SW/SSW swells. The bigger problem is the wind: the marine layer and afternoon sea breeze become a relentless onshore SW-W flow, with ideal offshore winds occurring only 1-7% of the time from June-August. Waves are usually 0.5-1m (2-3ft) and blown-out, making for groveling, wind-affected conditions. The best summer surfing is usually at dawn before the onshore wind kicks in, and the water is at its warmest (16-18°C / 61-64°F).