The First SSW Swell of the Season 🌊

Warm Water, Sunny Skies, and the Start of South Swell Season

This past week we saw something special at our local beaches… the first South-Southwest (SSW) swell of the 2026 season arrive in Southern California.

Venice Beach was firing, Zuma was big, and Will Rogers had great beginner waves. Some of our beginner lessons got the best waves of their lives!

For all of us surfers in Los Angeles, the first SSW swell is a major milestone. It marks the transition from winter’s northwest energy into the beginning of spring and summer south swell season. This means warmer water, smaller swells, less unpredictable weather, and our home breaks start to get really fun.

What’s even better? Record warm weather and ocean temperatures for early March.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, this spring is shaping up to be one of the warmest in recent history.

The First Southern Hemisphere Pulse

According to forecasters from Surfline, the swell arrived as a long-period SSW swell, producing fun 2–4+ foot sets across many Los Angeles beaches.

These early-season swells typically originate from storms deep in the Southern Hemisphere. The energy travels thousands of miles across the Pacific before finally reaching California’s coastline.

They’re rarely the biggest swells of the year, winter takes the crown. But these SSW swells signal something important:

The south swell season is beginning, meaning it’s basically an early summer.

A Perfect Day for Our Surf Community

For our Sunrise Surf Academy crew, the swell lined up beautifully.

A high-to-low tide created playful peaks and long corners across the sandbars, perfect conditions for learning, improving, and sharing waves with friends.

Our Spring Shred Camp program scored waves in Venice, where the groms worked on their cutbacks and eased back into the program. We still have nine more weeks of surfing at Shred Camp this spring.

Early south swells like this one are some of our favorites. They’re approachable, clean, and great for surfers of all levels.

Come find out why! 

More Swell on the Way

The best part? This may only be the beginning.

Forecast models are already hinting at an El Nino year, meaning additional SSW energy building across the Pacific, which means more fun spring surf could be on the way in the coming weeks.

If the early patterns hold, this could shape up to be one of the best spring seasons we’ve seen in years, consistent waves, warm water, and classic Southern California beach-break conditions.

The Perfect Time to Surf

With more warm-water swell on the horizon, spring is one of the best times of year to get in the ocean.

That’s exactly why we’re excited for our upcoming Spring Break Surf Camp, where surfers can spend full days in the water building skills, catching waves, and enjoying everything the beach has to offer.

For surfers looking for a shorter session, our private and group surf lessons are also running throughout the spring season.

With the first south swell already here and more expected soon, the next few weeks could bring some of the most fun waves of the year.

🌊 See you in the lineup. — A surfed out Sunrise Surf Academy Crew