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.

May at Hermosa Beach offers generally clean but modest surf conditions, with an average swell height of 0.9m and a solid period of 13.3s, indicating well-spaced, groomed waves. The majority of swells come from the SW (28.67% in the 0.5-1m range) and W (14.41% in the 1-1.5m range), providing a mix of angled and more direct energy. Larger waves (1.5m+) are less frequent but appear mostly from the W, peaking at 3.79% for 1.5-2m swells—offering occasional punchy sections for advanced surfers. Wind is the limiting factor, with only 24% of days providing ideal offshore or light conditions. Predominant winds blow from the WSW and SW at 10-20kph (9.18% and 5.73%, respectively), often creating choppy surface conditions. Early mornings may see cleaner waves before sea breezes pick up. Overall, expect small to fun-sized waves with workable shape when winds align, but frequent onshore breezes require patience for optimal sessions.