Ventura County — Weather & Marine Report
The atmosphere over Ventura County today is dominated by a cool marine layer with light northwest winds nearshore, producing comfortable coastal temperatures and modest onshore flow that keeps conditions stable for boating and recreation. This pattern supports a marine layer-driven morning low cloud deck with afternoon partial clearing and light sea breezes along the beaches.
Nearby buoy and swell observations indicate a primary northwest to west-northwest swell with a dominant period in the mid-teens; average wave faces along Ventura beaches are running around waist-to-chest high (2–4 ft) with occasional sets larger. Buoy and nearshore station reporting historically used for these summaries include NOAA NDBC Ventura nearshore stations and the local tide station at Ventura Harbor. [web:10][web:1]
Swell specifics from nearby NOAA/ NDBC sources show the swell direction is northwest to west-northwest with period around 12–16 seconds and buoy significant wave heights supporting average surf in the 2–4 ft range, with longer-period energy producing occasional larger sets on exposed points. These conditions favor cleaner surf on protected south-facing breaks and more pushy conditions on west-facing points.
Tides (Ventura Harbor, NOAA predictions): next high tide this afternoon and an early evening low tide are expected; typical today’s high and low values are in the ~4–7 ft high range and near 0 to -0.5 ft for lows—check NOAA tide predictions for exact times at your spot before planning. [web:1][web:5]
Safety note: strong rip currents can form near points and jetties when northwest swell and onshore winds combine; use flotation and local advisories if venturing offshore. Raw data from NOAA, curated by surforecast pacificwaverider