Huntington Beach Alert Guide

California, USA · part of the Huntington Beach spot guide

The San Pedro buoy (46253) sits about 19 km up-coast and reads a similar window, so a live-observation alert is a sound trigger — but apply the Huntington-specific Catalina shadow rule to its direction. The height below is the buoy reading, not the face.

The forecaster's checklist

1. 1.Read the San Pedro buoy (46253) direction first — a south-to-south-southwest component feeds the north-side summer peaks, and west-northwest feeds the south side in winter.
2. 2.Watch the roughly 210–220° shadow line: a strong southwest above about 210° gets knocked down by Catalina, the north half first.
3. 3.Prioritize period — 14-to-18-second groundswell punches through, while 6-to-9-second wind chop stays weak and mushy.
4. 4.On long-period northwest over 16 seconds, look for a refraction bonus bending around Catalina onto the south side.
5. 5.Score the dawn offshore or Santa Ana before the mid-morning onshore, aim for a mid-tide push, and factor the summer blackball and US Open closures around the pier.

Local winds & tide

Best wind: NE–N offshore (Santa Ana) mornings — from 0° to 90° (N–E).

Works across all stages, with a mid tide generally best; a steep shorebreak at high and draining banks at very low.

Dial it in