Los Angeles County Area Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

CaliforniaNear Rolling Hills Estates, Los Angeles CountyNWS zone CAZ364NWS Los Angeles-Oxnard

Rip current risk today: Low. Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

Surf 1 to 3 feet, water 69 to 74 degrees. Buoy 46256, 12 mi out, measured 72 °F water and 2.0 ft waves. Sunset 6:50 PM.

Rip current risk: LowToday
Surf: 1 to 3 feetForecast
Water: 69 to 74 degreesForecast
Sunset: 6:50 PMPDT

Rip current risk on the map

Today’s rip current risk in every surf zone the National Weather Service forecasts for over Los Angeles County Area Beaches. Open it for the live map, where it pans and zooms.

Open the live map with rip current risk

Map layer from NOAA National Weather Service surf zone forecasts. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Alerts in force

No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Los Angeles County Area Beaches. Those are the products a coastal office issues when the water turns dangerous. When one is issued it appears here and on the alerts page for this area.

Today and tomorrow

From the National Weather Service beach forecast, issued 116 PM PDT, 9/21/2026.

Today This afternoon through tuesday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 to 3 feet
Water temperature: 69 to 74 degrees
Thunderstorms: None expected

Tomorrow Wednesday

Low rip current risk

Rip current risk: Low
Surf: 1 to 3 feet
Thunderstorms: None expected

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Malibu Coast, Los Angeles County Beaches. Issued 1:16 PM PDT on Mon, Sep 21 by the National Weather Service in Los Angeles-Oxnard.

This afternoon through tuesday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 to 3 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: None expected
Water Temperature: 69 to 74 degrees
Tides: Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 02:45 AM PDT. High 4.3 feet (MLLW) 09:20 AM PDT. Low 2.3 feet (MLLW) 02:28 PM PDT. High 5.3 feet (MLLW) 08:21 PM PDT
Remarks: Mixed south swell and west swell

Wednesday

Rip Current Risk: Low
Surf Height: 1 to 3 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: None expected
Tides: Low 0.1 feet (MLLW) 03:11 AM PDT. High 4.5 feet (MLLW) 09:35 AM PDT. Low 1.8 feet (MLLW) 03:00 PM PDT. High 5.5 feet (MLLW) 08:58 PM PDT
Remarks: Mixed west swell and south swell

The office's notes on this forecast

Rip Current Risks: * Low Risk - Life threatening rip currents are unlikely but still could occur. * Moderate Risk - Life threatening rip currents are possible. * High Risk - Life threatening rip currents are likely.

The product as issued

FZUS56 KLOX 212016
SRFLOX

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard
116 PM PDT Mon Sep 21 2026

CAZ362-364-221130-
Malibu Coast-
Los Angeles County Beaches-
116 PM PDT Mon Sep 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............69 to 74 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 02:45 AM PDT.
                              High 4.3 feet (MLLW) 09:20 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.3 feet (MLLW) 02:28 PM PDT.
                              High 5.3 feet (MLLW) 08:21 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed south swell and west swell.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.1 feet (MLLW) 03:11 AM PDT.
                              High 4.5 feet (MLLW) 09:35 AM PDT.
                              Low 1.8 feet (MLLW) 03:00 PM PDT.
                              High 5.5 feet (MLLW) 08:58 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed west swell and south swell.


&&

Rip Current Risks:
* Low Risk - Life threatening rip currents are unlikely but still could occur.
* Moderate Risk - Life threatening rip currents are possible.
* High Risk - Life threatening rip currents are likely.

$$


CAZ354-221130-
Ventura County Beaches-
116 PM PDT Mon Sep 21 2026

.THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............69 to 73 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.3 feet (MLLW) 02:49 AM PDT.
                              High 4.2 feet (MLLW) 09:23 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.3 feet (MLLW) 02:28 PM PDT.
                              High 5.3 feet (MLLW) 08:25 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed south swell and west swell.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 03:14 AM PDT.
                              High 4.5 feet (MLLW) 09:37 AM PDT.
                              Low 1.8 feet (MLLW) 03:01 PM PDT.
                              High 5.5 feet (MLLW) 09:01 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed west swell and south swell.


&&

Rip Current Risks:
* Low Risk - Life threatening rip currents are unlikely but still could occur.
* Moderate Risk - Life threatening rip currents are possible.
* High Risk - Life threatening rip currents are likely.

$$


CAZ349-350-221130-
Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast-
Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast-
116 PM PDT Mon Sep 21 2026


.THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 2 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............Around 71 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.3 feet (MLLW) 03:04 AM PDT.
                              High 4.1 feet (MLLW) 09:38 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.4 feet (MLLW) 02:41 PM PDT.
                              High 5.2 feet (MLLW) 08:38 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................West swell.

.WEDNESDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 2 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 03:31 AM PDT.
                              High 4.4 feet (MLLW) 09:54 AM PDT.
                              Low 1.9 feet (MLLW) 03:15 PM PDT.
                              High 5.4 feet (MLLW) 09:16 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................West swell.


&&

Rip Current Risks:
* Low Risk - Life threatening rip currents are unlikely but still could occur.
* Moderate Risk - Life threatening rip currents are possible.
* High Risk - Life threatening rip currents are likely.

$$


CAZ340-346-221130-
San Luis Obispo County Beaches-
Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches-
116 PM PDT Mon Sep 21 2026


.THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY...
Surf Height...................3 to 6 feet becoming 4 to 7 feet Tuesday.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............64 to 66 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.3 feet (MLLW) 03:19 AM PDT.
                              High 4.1 feet (MLLW) 09:59 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.5 feet (MLLW) 03:03 PM PDT.
                              High 5.1 feet (MLLW) 08:54 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed west swell and south swell.

.WEDNESDAY...
Surf Height...................4 to 7 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.2 feet (MLLW) 03:49 AM PDT.
                              High 4.3 feet (MLLW) 10:17 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.1 feet (MLLW) 03:39 PM PDT.
                              High 5.2 feet (MLLW) 09:35 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................West swell.


&&

Rip Current Risks:
* Low Risk - Life threatening rip currents are unlikely but still could occur.
* Moderate Risk - Life threatening rip currents are possible.
* High Risk - Life threatening rip currents are likely.

$$

The water now, measured

Buoy 46256, Long Beach Channel, CA (215), 12 mi away, reported 12:26 AM.

Waves: 2.0 ft at 17 seconds from the SSW
Water temperature: 72 °F

From NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Wave height is the significant height, the average of the highest third; the largest waves run half again as high. Offshore buoys read bigger than the surf at the beach.

Tides today

King Harbor, Santa Monica Bay, 4.3 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

Low tide1:52 AM0.3 ft
High tide8:28 AM4.1 ft
Low tide1:35 PM2.4 ft
High tide7:29 PM5.1 ft

Low tide often exposes the sandbars and channels that shape rip currents, and the risk can run higher for an hour or two either side of it. Full tide table for King Harbor, Santa Monica Bay.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 6:42 AM
Sunset today: 6:50 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 6:42 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 6:49 PM

Times are Pacific Daylight Time. Lifeguards are off duty outside posted hours, and the rip current risk does not fall with the light.

What this means

The three levels the National Weather Service issues, and what to do at each.

High	Life-threatening rip currents are likely. The surf zone is dangerous for swimmers of every level. Stay out of the water.
Moderate	Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags.
Low	Life-threatening rip currents are not expected, but they can still form near groins, jetties, reefs and piers. Swim near a lifeguard.

If a rip current carries you out

Do not fight the current. It pulls you away from the beach, not under the water.
Stay calm and keep your head above water. Float or tread water until the pull eases.
Swim parallel to the beach, along the shore, until you are out of the current, then angle in toward the beach.
If you cannot escape, face the shore, wave your arms and call for help.
If someone else is caught, do not go in after them. Get a lifeguard, call 911, and throw them something that floats.

Thunderstorms and lightning

No thunderstorms are in the forecast today. Water and open sand leave you the tallest thing around. When thunder roars, go indoors: leave the water and the beach for a building or a hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back.

A rip current is a narrow stream of water flowing away from the beach, through the surf and past the breakers. It pulls swimmers out, not under. Rip current and lightning safety guidance from the National Weather Service.

Nearby

The stretches of shore the National Weather Service forecasts on either side of this one.

More for this place

Sources

Rip current risk, surf, water temperature and UV from the National Weather Service surf zone forecast and beach forecast, office LOX, issued 116 PM PDT, 9/21/2026. Original at NWS. Waves and water temperature measured by NOAA's National Data Buoy Center. Tides from NOAA CO-OPS. Alerts from the National Weather Service for zone CAZ364.