Hermosa Beach Pier
Hermosa Beach
Now
Thu Nov 5 · 12–3 PM forecast
3–4 ftwaist to chest
Best tomorrow · Fri 6
Compare bothNothing good left today.
Best tomorrow · Fri 6, 6 to 9:30 AM Pacific.
then the wind turns onshore
2–3 ft · thigh to waist
Small waves, more fun on a longboard, and light offshore wind is grooming them.
Hermosa Beach Pier surf guide
Shifting sandbar peaks around the Hermosa pier, for beginners up to intermediates · 2 things to watch
Hermosa Beach Pier guide
Shifting sandbar peaks around the Hermosa pier, for beginners up to intermediates.
- Good for
- Beginners and intermediates on any board.
- The wave
- Short sandbar lefts and rights that close out as it builds.
- Watch for
- Surfing through the pier pilings is banned.
- Rips and crowds near the pier.
- Best when
- Best on a WSW to WNW swell (240°–285°) with ENE offshore wind, at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
MoreLess about Hermosa Beach Pier
Longboards at 1.5–3.5 ft, shortboards at 2.5–6 ft. Most consistent in fall and winter.
Catalina and Palos Verdes block much of the south swell, so summer is often small. Fall and winter west and northwest swells bring the best days.
The Surfers Walk of Fame, bronze plaques set into the pier since 2003, honors South Bay legends, Dale Velzy, Hap Jacobs and Greg Noll among them.
- Local tip
- Metered street parking and city lots sit within a few blocks; summer weekends crowd both the sand and the water.
GOOD TIDE TODAY9:00–11:15 AM2:50–5:23 PM
Guide updated October 2026
Spot research: WannaSurf, Wikipedia, Surf-Forecast, Surfnerd, Mondo Surf, Surf Trips, LA County Beaches and Harbors, City of Hermosa Beach, Hermosa Beach Municipal Code and Los Angeles Times.
Send a spot correctionLive buoy Santa Monica Bay
- WAVES
- 4.0 ft
- PERIOD
- 7s
- FROM
- W 261°
- WATER
- 74°
Observed 1:30 PM · 54 min old
7-day surf
LB longboard · SB shortboard
Thu 12 PM · now
3–4 ft · waist to chest ·
8 mph onshore · tide 1.0 ft falling
Swell near the beach: 3.5 ft every 13 s from WSW
| Time | Surf | Rating | Wind | Tide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 3 mph offshore | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good | 4 mph, gusts 8, offshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Good | 4 mph, gusts 8, offshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 AM | 4–5 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Good | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Thu 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 8 mph onshore | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Thu 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 9 mph, gusts 12, onshore | 1.7 ft and rising |
| Thu 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 8 mph, gusts 12, onshore | 4.2 ft and rising |
| Thu 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 8, onshore | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 7, offshore | 1.1 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 5 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 2 mph, gusts 5, glassy | 4.7 ft and falling |
| Fri 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 10 mph, gusts 13, onshore | 1.0 ft and falling |
| Fri 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph, gusts 12, onshore | 0.6 ft and rising |
| Fri 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 0 mph, gusts 2, glassy | 3.5 ft and rising |
| Fri 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph cross-offshore | 3.9 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 7, cross-offshore | 1.7 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 1 mph, gusts 6, glassy | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph, gusts 7, cross-onshore | 5.4 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 4 mph, gusts 8, cross-offshore | 5.2 ft and falling |
| Sat 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 4 mph, gusts 6, cross-onshore | 1.4 ft and falling |
| Sat 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 9 mph onshore | −0.1 ft and rising |
| Sat 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 8 mph, gusts 13, onshore | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Sat 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 5 mph offshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 4 mph offshore | 2.2 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 4 mph, gusts 5, offshore | 2.2 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 4 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.1 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 AM | 1–2 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair | 4 mph, gusts 7, offshore | 5.7 ft and falling |
| Sun 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 0 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 2.0 ft and falling |
| Sun 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor | 7 mph onshore | −0.4 ft and rising |
| Sun 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 8, onshore | 1.7 ft and rising |
| Sun 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 8, onshore | 3.9 ft and rising |
| Mon 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph offshore | 2.7 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 4 mph offshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
| Mon 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 4, offshore | 4.8 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 3 mph, gusts 6, offshore | 5.9 ft and falling |
| Mon 12 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 2 mph glassy | 2.7 ft and falling |
| Mon 3 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 6 mph onshore | −0.4 ft and falling |
| Mon 6 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 7 mph onshore | 0.9 ft and rising |
| Mon 9 PM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 3 mph, gusts 4, onshore | 3.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 12 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good, dark hours | 1 mph glassy | 3.1 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 1 mph glassy | 2.4 ft and rising |
| Tue 6 AM | 3–4 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair–Good | 1 mph glassy | 4.5 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 5.9 ft and falling |
| Tue 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 3 mph cross-onshore | 3.4 ft and falling |
| Tue 3 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Poor–Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 8 mph onshore | 0.0 ft and falling |
| Tue 6 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 7 mph onshore | 0.4 ft and rising |
| Tue 9 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Poor–Fair, dark hours | 4 mph, gusts 5, onshore | 2.9 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair, dark hours | 2 mph, gusts 3, glassy | 3.3 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 1 mph glassy | 2.6 ft and rising |
| Wed 6 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Good, shortboard Fair | 2 mph glassy | 4.1 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 AM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair–Good, shortboard Fair | 1 mph glassy | 5.7 ft and rising |
| Wed 12 PM | 2–3 ft | Longboard Fair, shortboard Poor–Fair | 5 mph onshore | 4.0 ft and falling |
| Wed 3 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable | 10 mph onshore | 0.6 ft and falling |
| Wed 6 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 7 mph, gusts 9, onshore | 0.1 ft and rising |
| Wed 9 PM | Waves unavailable | Longboard Unavailable, shortboard Unavailable, dark hours | 6 mph, gusts 7, onshore | 2.3 ft and rising |
Today’s tide
GOOD 9:00–11:15 AM2:50–5:23 PM
King Harbor · feet above low water
Swell
New long-period W swell arrives tonight.
Best session from it: Tue 6 AM–12 PM at Hermosa Pier
Details
New long-period W swell (14s) arrives tonight.
Wave forecast checked against the live Santa Monica Bay buoy.
Updated 2:23 PM · CDIP/Scripps, Open-Meteo and NOAA.
Common questions
Is Hermosa Beach Pier good for beginners?
Yes when it’s small; bigger days suit surfers with some experience.
What tide is best at Hermosa Beach Pier?
It’s best at mid tide (about 1.5–4 ft).
What swell works at Hermosa Beach Pier?
A WSW to WNW swell (240°–285°) is best, with ENE offshore wind. It picks up swell from SSW to WNW (195°–293°). Most consistent in fall and winter.
What board should I ride at Hermosa Beach Pier?
Either works: longboards at 1.5–3.5 ft, shortboards at 2.5–6 ft.
What should I watch out for at Hermosa Beach Pier?
Surfing through the pier pilings is banned; and rips and crowds near the pier.