Hermosa Beach - surf spot statistics

Hermosa Beach offers relatively consistent swell conditions year-round, with ground swells dominating most months, particularly from June through September, where they account for 79-82% of the swell activity. The mean swell size hovers between 0.7m and 0.9m, peaking in winter (November to February) with slightly larger waves. However, wind conditions are often unfavorable, with the highest likelihood of bad winds occurring from April to September, when onshore winds prevail 74-81% of the time. The best balance between swell consistency and manageable winds appears in late fall and early winter (October to December), where ground swells remain solid (63-77%), and wind conditions improve slightly with good winds reaching 29-34%. January and February also see decent ground swells (72-73%) but still suffer from higher bad wind probabilities (63-65%). Summer months (June-August) bring the cleanest ground swell dominance (79-81%) but are plagued by poor wind conditions (79-81% bad winds), making the waves choppy and less ideal. For surfers prioritizing quality, late fall and early winter offer the most promising combination of reliable swell and slightly better wind odds, though patience for favorable wind days is key.

July at Hermosa Beach generally offers small but clean conditions for surfers, with an average swell height of 0.7m and a long-period 14.0s swell—indicating well-organized, energy-rich waves despite the modest size. The majority of waves come from the SW and SSW directions, with heights predominantly in the 0.5-1m range (35.98% SSW, 33.92% SW), occasionally reaching 1-1.5m. Westerly swells contribute slightly larger waves (3.58% 1-1.5m from W), though overhead conditions are rare. Wind conditions are variable, with only 19% of days providing ideal offshore winds (typically light ENE-E early mornings). However, summer onshore breezes from WSW-SW (peaking at 10.58% WSW in 10-20kph range) can create chop by midday. Expect mostly knee-to-waist-high waves with occasional chest-high sets, best suited for longboarders or those favoring small-wave performance surfing. Dawn patrols are recommended to capitalize on cleaner conditions before winds pick up.