
Surf Forecasts:
Emma Wood State Beach surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 20 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 13s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with 435 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 17 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s period with W swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Emma Wood State Beach this week:
The surf forecast for Emma Wood State Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 19s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 2s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Emma Wood State Beach in the next 16 days are 0.9m 16s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 3s period and expected on Friday (Jul 17) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 2AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Emma Wood State Beach over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Gather 'round, mates. Let's talk about Emma Wood State Beach for the next 16 days.
Right off the bat, I gotta be honest with you – this stretch of coast is lookin' pretty flat and frustrating. The water's a balmy 66°, which is a solid 4° warmer than usual for this time of year, so it feels like a warm bath out there, but that's about the only good news.
We're staring down a long, lean period. The first real chance to even paddle out doesn't come until Monday the 20th, and even then it's a "maybe." The surf is just... not there. For the first few days, from the 16th through the 19th, we've got tiny waves, mostly around 1.0ft to 2ft, with weak energy readings (mostly between 122 and 338). The wind is a cruel joke – it's cross-onshore or onshore from the WSW, chopping up whatever tiny bumps exist. It's a total write-off.
Then Monday the 20th rolls in, and we finally get a whiff of something. The swell picks up to 2ft from the SSW, with a period of 15 seconds, creating a combined energy of 288. The wind is light and onshore, so it's not clean, but it's the first time the report isn't screaming "poor." It's still marginal, just a knee-high bump that's a struggle to ride.
The following days are more of the same grind. The swell tries to build, hitting 3ft from the S on the 23rd and 25th, with the energy climbing into the 400s and 500s – that's moderate energy, but the wind is a persistent cross-onshore, keeping everything messy and choppy. The waves are there, but the quality is cooked. It's the kind of surf you'd paddle out for if you were desperate, but you won't be stoked.
The best of a bad bunch might be the period around Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th. On the 23rd, we've got a 3ft south swell with a 15-second period, and even though the wind is cross-onshore, the energy is building (515 in the afternoon). The 24th has a similar 3ft south swell, but with a 13-second period. Honestly, nothing here is a standout. It's all just... average at best, poor at worst.
The long-range stuff into the last week of July and the 30th and 31st is just more of the same. The swell hangs around 2ft to 3ft, the wind stays cross-onshore from the WSW, and the energy fluctuates. There's no magic window where the stars align.
Look, this is a tough forecast. The crowds are "often" here, so you'll have company even on these tiny, grovelly days. If you're a beginner, the swell is small enough to be safe, but the onshore wind will make it a frustrating session. If you're an expert, there's nothing here to get you out of bed. The consistent onshore wind makes this setup far more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer right now.
This is one of those stretches where the ocean just isn't cooperating. Forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, I'd leave the board in the car and find something else to do.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 16 | Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 17 | W 17 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
69 | 103 | 76 | 52 | 49 | 150 | 83 | 43 | 143 | 150 | 265 | 150 | 121 | 223 | 242 | 148 | 204 | 140 | 206 | 183 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | on | glassy | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 11:30PM1.90m | 1:03PM1.39m | 00:19AM1.66m | 1:46PM1.43m | 1:12AM1.39m | 2:31PM1.46m | 2:16AM1.12m | 3:18PM1.48m | 3:49AM0.91m | 4:10PM1.49m | 6:07AM0.84m | 5:06PM1.51m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:33PM0.55m | 6:36AM-0.25m | 6:31PM0.55m | 7:15AM-0.05m | 7:36PM0.56m | 7:51AM0.17m | 8:53PM0.55m | 8:27AM0.39m | 10:24PM0.50m | 9:05AM0.60m | 11:57PM0.38m | 9:53AM0.77m | 1:09AM0.24m | |||||||
— | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | |
8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:06 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 18 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 21 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | W 9 | W 9 | W 8 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 6 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 13 | S 12 | S 12 | SSW 16 | SSW 13 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | S 14 | WSW 6 |
69 | 103 | 76 | 48 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 67 | 101 | 265 | 134 | 95 | 223 | 242 | 123 | 204 | 140 | 206 | 58 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 17 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | W 16 | SW 17 | SW 18 | W 5 | SSW 15 | SW 16 | S 11 | SSW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | SSW 8 | SSW 14 | S 16 |
39 | 56 | 33 | 52 | 34 | 150 | 83 | 43 | 143 | 150 | 12 | 150 | 121 | 88 | 109 | 148 | 44 | 23 | 118 | 183 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 12 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 14 | W 17 | W 16 | W 16 | S 12 | W 6 | SSW 15 | W 15 | W 4 | SSW 13 | W 14 | W 13 | S 14 | SSE 12 | S 15 | SW 7 | SSW 14 |
14 | 33 | 58 | 33 | 49 | 45 | 44 | 27 | 10 | 78 | 38 | 4 | 60 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 109 | 7 | 115 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SE 2 | ESE 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | WNW 7 | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 3 | W 3 | W 4 | WSW 4 | WSW 5 | W 6 |
— | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | — | — | 3 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 89 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 19 | 0 | 91 | 19 | 0 | 91 | 19 | 0 | 98 | 19 | 0 | 99 | 19 | 0 | 98 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 263 | 6 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Ventura County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Emma Wood State Beach Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Emma Wood State Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Emma Wood State Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Emma Wood State Beach 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 (Emma Wood State Beach) 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 Emma Wood State Beach 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.
Emma Wood State Beach is 5 km (3 miles) from the city of Ventura. If you plan a vacation in Ventura County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ventura. Ventura has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










