Surf Forecasts:
Ballona Creek and Jetty surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 29 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 18s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 18s period, SSW swell with 480 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.4m), 18s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Ballona Creek and Jetty this week:
The surf forecast for Ballona Creek and Jetty over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.4m and 18s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 14s. Another secondary swell of 0.5m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Ballona Creek and Jetty in the next 16 days are 0.9m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 1.5ft (0.4m) 18s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 18s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Ballona Creek and Jetty over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what we’ve got coming up at Ballona Creek and Jetty. It’s a bit of a slow burn, but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Right now, and for the next week and a half, it’s pretty flat and frustrating. The surf is tiny, with swell heights barely cracking 1ft to 2ft, and it’s mostly onshore wind. The water is sitting at 70°, which is *much warmer than normal* for this time of year – a solid 5° above the average, so you can leave the thick wetsuit at home. But honestly, the conditions are just poor for paddle surfing day after day. There’s a long stretch of nothing worth paddling out for.
We finally start to see some life kicking in around the end of the first week of September. The morning of Thursday, September 3rd, gives us a glimmer of hope with a 2ft SSW swell and a very long period of 19 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy, with combined energy hitting 415 (moderate). The wind is light and onshore, but the potential is there. The afternoon picks up to 2ft from the same direction, with energy jumping to 511.
The real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, looks like the morning of Saturday, September 5th. We’ve got a 3ft SSW swell with a solid 17-second period. The combined energy is a strong 803, so there’s plenty of push. The wind is light and onshore, which isn’t ideal, but it’s clean enough. This is the best looking window in the whole 16-day run. Keep in mind, with that long period, it might be a bit walled up at a beach/jetty setup, but for an advanced spot like this, it’s your best bet.
The following morning, Sunday, September 6th, is also worth a look. We’ve got 3ft from the SSE with a 15-second period. The wind is light and cross-shore, which could actually line it up a bit better. The energy is still strong at 639. It’s a toss-up between the Saturday and Sunday morning sessions, but the slightly bigger swell on Saturday gets the nod.
For the rest of the second week, things stay marginal. There’s a bit of size on Monday, September 7th, with 4ft, but the period drops to 14 seconds and the wind is messy. It’s a long-range call, so keep your fingers crossed that the forecasts tighten up.
So, to sum it up: don’t waste your time for the first week and a half. The best surf on offer is the morning of Saturday, September 5th, with that 3ft SSW groundswell. It’s not a classic, but it’s our one true standout. The Sunday morning is a close second.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 32°C on Tue afternoon, min 23°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 29°C on Wed afternoon, min 23°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | W 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 126 | 111 | 112 | 111 | 98 | 173 | 169 | 127 | 124 | 124 | 137 | 137 | 121 | 82 | 126 | 186 | 246 | 390 | 373 | 407 | 392 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross | on | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy | on | on | glassy |
High Tide | 8:49AM1.49m | 7:00PM2.02m | 9:05AM1.55m | 7:40PM2.11m | 9:23AM1.60m | 8:15PM2.17m | 9:42AM1.67m | 8:50PM2.20m | 10:02AM1.74m | 9:24PM2.17m | 10:24AM1.82m | 9:59PM2.09m | 10:46AM1.90m | 10:36PM1.96m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:55PM1.25m | 2:24AM0.33m | 1:35PM1.15m | 2:52AM0.27m | 2:11PM1.05m | 3:18AM0.24m | 2:45PM0.95m | 3:43AM0.24m | 3:21PM0.86m | 4:07AM0.29m | 3:58PM0.77m | 4:30AM0.38m | 4:37PM0.70m | 4:53AM0.50m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | |
 | 6:20 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — |
 | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:29 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:25 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 28 | 26 | 27 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 32 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 28 | 29 | 25 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 32 | 29 | 29 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 6 | SSW 13 | S 14 | S 14 | SW 17 | W 5 | W 6 | SW 16 | W 7 | W 6 | S 12 | W 7 | S 11 | S 11 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 19 | W 7 | W 7 | SSW 16 | W 7 |
| kJ | 15 | 57 | 103 | 106 | 98 | 27 | 23 | 127 | 91 | 36 | 137 | 60 | 121 | 82 | 126 | 42 | 246 | 138 | 91 | 407 | 210 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SW 18 | W 5 | W 5 | SSW 12 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | S 12 | W 6 | S 12 | W 6 | SW 14 | S 10 | SSW 17 | S 9 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | W 10 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 58 | 111 | 12 | 14 | 29 | 173 | 169 | 57 | 124 | 69 | 18 | 137 | 29 | 73 | 75 | 186 | 43 | 390 | 373 | 17 | 392 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | S 16 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSE 12 | S 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 14 | S 10 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 | S 9 |
| kJ | 126 | 20 | 112 | 111 | 37 | 57 | 57 | 30 | 88 | 124 | 119 | 104 | 75 | 50 | 92 | 47 | 44 | 29 | 16 | 16 | 6 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 5 | — | — | W 5 | — | — | W 6 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | — | — | W 10 | — | — | W 7 | — |
| kJ | — | 13 | — | — | 13 | — | — | 22 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | 94 | — | — | 56 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 63 | 105 | 0 | 57 | 105 | 6 | 52 | 57 | 4 | 6 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 52 | 0 | 65 | 38 | 0 | 18 | 52 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Ballona Creek and Jetty Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Ballona Creek and Jetty provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Ballona Creek and Jetty can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Ballona Creek and Jetty surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Ballona Creek and Jetty) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Ballona Creek and Jetty may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Ballona Creek and Jetty is 6 km (4 miles) from the city of El Segundo. If you plan a vacation in Los Angeles County, look for hotels and other accommodation in El Segundo. El Segundo has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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