Best Malibu surf window today: tide and conditions
Malibu's best surf window today is 11:30 PM-12:30 AM, with rising tide, 9 mph wind, and 0.5 ft swell; incoming tide, cross-shore winds, good swell angle. Leo Carrillo State Beach is the top pick at 0.5 ft. For Malibu, treat crowd and tide as part of the forecast before the seasonal score makes the call.
Live surf planning
Plan around the live conditions
Best time to surf Malibu this week
August rates 87/100 for Malibu. 9 of 10 local beaches are in peak season; August is the historical peak if this week's surf report looks marginal. The seasonal window matters most when the live Malibu surf report still shows room, clean wind, and the right tide.
Match the surf report
Open the Malibu surf report for today's First Point wave height, tide, wind, crowd note, and backup plan before using this seasonal guide.
Seasonal pattern in August
August
9 of 10 beaches are in peak season right now. Expect 3-6 ft waves and 68°F water.
Surf Score by Month
Score reflects overall surf quality each month — combining peak season activity, water temperature, and crowd levels.
Monthly Breakdown
January
PeakBig NW swells, uncrowded lineups
February
PeakConsistent NW groundswells
March
Transitional swells, spring breaks
April
Small clean days, longboarding
May
Glassy mornings, south swell teasers
June
June gloom glass, early south swells
July
Summer south swells, warm water
August
PeakPeak south swells, warm water
September
PeakSouth swells + early NW, warm water
October
PeakCombo swells, Santa Ana offshore winds
November
PeakFirst big NW swells, Santa Anas
December
PeakBig NW groundswells, holiday crowds
Dawn Patrol vs Afternoon Sessions
Dawn Patrol
- Typically glassier conditions before onshore winds build
- Smaller crowds, especially on weekdays
- Water temps at their coolest — plan your wetsuit for the low end (56°F in winter)
- Best for beach breaks and exposed reef setups in Malibu
Afternoon Sessions
- Onshore winds can create chop, but swell is often more consistent
- Higher crowds on popular beaches, especially weekends
- Water warms through the day — upper end (68°F in summer)
- Sunset sessions can be magic when winds die down
