Surf Forecasts:
72nd Place surf forecast from 17 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 21 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 14s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 2PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 14s period, SSW swell with 862 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 19 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for 72nd Place this week:
The surf forecast for 72nd Place over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 19) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at 72nd Place in the next 16 days are 1.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Sun 19th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Tue 21st Jul) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Mon 20th Jul) | 5ft (1.5m) 14s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for 72nd Place over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.
First off, I gotta be real with you – the next 16 days are looking pretty grim for 72nd Place. This spot is sheltered, and it’s inconsistent at the best of times, so when the swell is this weak and the wind is mostly junk, it’s a tough watch. The water is running warm at 69°, which is much warmer than usual for this time of year, but that’s about the only highlight.
The pattern starts Friday the 17th and runs through to Saturday the 2nd of August, and there’s barely a single window that’s worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny – mostly 1 ft to 3 ft – and the wind is almost always cross-on or onshore, even if it’s light. The combined wave energy is weak, hovering between 141 and 780 for most of the first week, which tells you the ocean is just not putting any power into the lineup.
A couple of mornings – like Tuesday the 21st and Thursday the 23rd – show a marginal call with 4 ft and 3 ft respectively, and light onshore wind, but the scores are still a flat zero. The swell is there, but it’s not clean. The best-looking energy spike comes Saturday the 25th, with a 3 ft SSW swell and a long period of 21 seconds, and combined energy jumping to 1122. That’s a moderate to strong pulse, but the wind is cross-on, and the spot is sheltered from the SW, so the waves are messy and weak on the face. The 4 ft pulse on Saturday afternoon is even bigger, but it’s cross-on and choppy.
For experts only, there’s a tiny window on Monday the 27th afternoon: 4 ft SSW swell with a 19-second period, combined energy of 1182, and onshore wind. That’s a lot of energy for a short period, and the long period suggests the swell is straight and fast – point break or reef would be better, but 72nd Place is a beach. Not ideal.
The second week is just more of the same: small, weak, and windswept. Nothing stands out. Honestly, if you’re looking to paddle, you’re better off waiting for a better forecast. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing, especially on the afternoons with moderate cross-onshore breeze.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Fri afternoon, min 20°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 21°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Friday 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | S 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 130 | 74 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 112 | 284 | 424 | 362 | 461 | 396 | 643 | 466 | 358 | 362 | 334 | 325 | 229 | 225 | 259 | 330 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | glassy | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:55PM1.82m | 00:11AM2.03m | 1:37PM1.86m | 1:05AM1.75m | 2:21PM1.88m | 2:10AM1.49m | 3:08PM1.90m | 3:45AM1.30m | 3:59PM1.91m | 5:56AM1.25m | 4:52PM1.92m | 7:42AM1.31m | 5:46PM1.96m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:18PM0.95m | 6:58AM0.36m | 7:25PM0.96m | 7:34AM0.58m | 8:43PM0.94m | 8:10AM0.80m | 10:13PM0.88m | 8:48AM0.99m | 11:40PM0.77m | 9:38AM1.14m | 00:48AM0.63m | 10:51AM1.24m | 1:36AM0.51m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:54 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — |
 | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 23 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 24 |
Feels °C | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | SW 14 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 11 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 13 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 7 | W 7 | S 13 | S 13 |
| kJ | 23 | 74 | 77 | 246 | 255 | 112 | 268 | 297 | 327 | 461 | 279 | 643 | 466 | 250 | 362 | 334 | 325 | 178 | 102 | 259 | 330 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | W 7 | W 6 | SSE 12 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 17 | SW 17 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 9 | SW 8 | S 8 | SSW 14 | S 13 | W 7 | W 6 |
| kJ | 130 | 14 | 7 | 46 | 70 | 65 | 284 | 424 | 362 | 298 | 396 | 214 | 291 | 358 | 121 | 59 | 10 | 229 | 225 | 43 | 39 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SW 18 | S 12 | SW 13 | WSW 6 | SW 13 | WSW 6 | W 15 | W 15 | SSE 15 | SSW 20 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 13 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 26 |
| kJ | 54 | 51 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 27 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 37 | 38 | 40 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 45 | 153 | 123 | 120 | 66 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | SSE 3 | SW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 4 | W 4 | WSW 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 3 | 2 | 1 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | 10 | 66 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 144 | 0 | 28 | 144 | 43 | 28 | 144 | 26 | 95 | 91 | 28 | 28 | 144 | 28 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Los Angeles County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the 72nd Place Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for 72nd Place provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at 72nd Place can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 72nd Place 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 (72nd Place) 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 72nd Place 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.
72nd Place is 0 km (0 miles) from the city of Seal Beach. If you plan a vacation in Los Angeles County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Seal Beach. Seal Beach has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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