Malibu Coast Beaches: rip current risk and surf forecast

CaliforniaNear Malibu, Los Angeles CountyNWS zone CAZ362NWS Los Angeles-Oxnard

Rip current risk today: Moderate. Life-threatening rip currents are possible. Swim near a lifeguard, and follow the beach patrol and its flags.

Surf 2 to 4 feet, water 70 to 72 degrees. Buoy 46268, 9.4 mi out, measured 73 °F water and 2.0 ft waves. Sunset 6:54 PM.

Rip current risk: ModerateToday
Surf: 2 to 4 feetForecast
Water: 70 to 72 degreesForecast
Sunset: 6:54 PMPDT

Radar

Reflectivity now over Malibu Coast Beaches. Open it to see rip current risk on the map.

Open the live radar with rip current risk

Radar mosaic and map layers from NOAA MRMS. Boundaries from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet.

Alerts in force

No beach hazards statement, high surf advisory or other warning is in force for Malibu Coast 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 216 AM PDT, 9/20/2026.

Today Today

Moderate rip current risk

Rip current risk: Moderate
Surf: 2 to 4 feet
Water temperature: 70 to 72 degrees
Thunderstorms: None expected

Tomorrow Monday

Moderate rip current risk

Rip current risk: Moderate
Surf: 2 to 4 feet
Thunderstorms: None expected

The surf zone forecast, period by period

Malibu Coast, Los Angeles County Beaches. Issued 2:16 AM PDT on Sun, Sep 20 by the National Weather Service in Los Angeles-Oxnard.

Moderate rip current risk

Today

Rip Current Risk: Moderate
Surf Height: 2 to 4 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: None expected
Water Temperature: 70 to 72 degrees
Tides: Low 0.7 feet (MLLW) 01:37 AM PDT. High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 09:02 AM PDT. Low 3.2 feet (MLLW) 01:12 PM PDT. High 4.7 feet (MLLW) 06:50 PM PDT
Remarks: Mixed south swell and west swell

Monday

Rip Current Risk: Moderate
Surf Height: 2 to 4 feet
Thunderstorm Potential: None expected
Tides: Low 0.4 feet (MLLW) 02:15 AM PDT. High 4.0 feet (MLLW) 09:09 AM PDT. Low 2.8 feet (MLLW) 01:54 PM PDT. High 5.0 feet (MLLW) 07:41 PM PDT
Remarks: Mixed south swell and west 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 200916
SRFLOX

Surf Zone Forecast
National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard
216 AM PDT Sun Sep 20 2026

CAZ362-364-210015-
Malibu Coast-
Los Angeles County Beaches-
216 AM PDT Sun Sep 20 2026

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK...

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Moderate.
Surf Height...................2 to 4 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............70 to 72 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.7 feet (MLLW) 01:37 AM PDT.
                              High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 09:02 AM PDT.
                              Low 3.2 feet (MLLW) 01:12 PM PDT.
                              High 4.7 feet (MLLW) 06:50 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed south swell and west swell.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Moderate.
Surf Height...................2 to 4 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.4 feet (MLLW) 02:15 AM PDT.
                              High 4.0 feet (MLLW) 09:09 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.8 feet (MLLW) 01:54 PM PDT.
                              High 5.0 feet (MLLW) 07:41 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed south swell and 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.

$$


CAZ354-210015-
Ventura County Beaches-
216 AM PDT Sun Sep 20 2026

...MODERATE RIP CURRENT RISK...

.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Moderate.
Surf Height...................2 to 4 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............71 to 73 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.7 feet (MLLW) 01:41 AM PDT.
                              High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 09:08 AM PDT.
                              Low 3.2 feet (MLLW) 01:12 PM PDT.
                              High 4.7 feet (MLLW) 06:53 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed south swell and west swell.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Moderate.
Surf Height...................2 to 4 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.5 feet (MLLW) 02:19 AM PDT.
                              High 4.0 feet (MLLW) 09:12 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.8 feet (MLLW) 01:54 PM PDT.
                              High 5.0 feet (MLLW) 07:44 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................Mixed south swell and 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.

$$


CAZ349-350-210015-
Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast-
Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast-
216 AM PDT Sun Sep 20 2026


.TODAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............Around 70 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.7 feet (MLLW) 01:51 AM PDT.
                              High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 09:17 AM PDT.
                              Low 3.2 feet (MLLW) 01:20 PM PDT.
                              High 4.8 feet (MLLW) 07:04 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................West swell.

.MONDAY...
Rip Current Risk*.............Low.
Surf Height...................1 to 3 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.4 feet (MLLW) 02:31 AM PDT.
                              High 3.9 feet (MLLW) 09:26 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.8 feet (MLLW) 02:05 PM PDT.
                              High 5.0 feet (MLLW) 07:55 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.

$$


CAZ340-346-210015-
San Luis Obispo County Beaches-
Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches-
216 AM PDT Sun Sep 20 2026


.TODAY...
Surf Height...................3 to 6 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Water Temperature.............63 to 65 degrees.
Tides.........................Low 0.6 feet (MLLW) 01:59 AM PDT.
                              High 3.8 feet (MLLW) 09:27 AM PDT.
                              Low 3.2 feet (MLLW) 01:32 PM PDT.
                              High 4.7 feet (MLLW) 07:12 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................North swell.

.MONDAY...
Surf Height...................3 to 6 feet.
Thunderstorm Potential........None expected.
Tides.........................Low 0.4 feet (MLLW) 02:44 AM PDT.
                              High 3.9 feet (MLLW) 09:43 AM PDT.
                              Low 2.9 feet (MLLW) 02:23 PM PDT.
                              High 4.9 feet (MLLW) 08:08 PM PDT.
Remarks.......................North 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 46268, Topanga Nearshore, CA (103), 9.4 mi away, reported 6:00 AM.

Waves: 2.0 ft at 18 seconds from the SSW
Water temperature: 73 °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

Santa Monica, 14 mi away. Feet above mean lower low water.

Low tide12:41 AM0.8 ft
High tide8:08 AM3.8 ft
Low tide12:12 PM3.3 ft
High tide5:53 PM4.8 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 Santa Monica.

Sun and daylight

Sunrise today: 6:42 AM
Sunset today: 6:54 PM
Sunrise tomorrow: 6:43 AM
Sunset tomorrow: 6:53 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 216 AM PDT, 9/20/2026. 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 CAZ362.