74°
Sunny
2%
83
Orange County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Seal Beach
Main St & Ocean Ave, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Quiet, old-fashioned beach town centered on the 1,865-foot Seal Beach Municipal Pier. Sheltered by the Long Beach breakwater, the water here is unusually calm.
Today's Conditions
Ideal for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 73°F water · 74°F air
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Sunny, with a high near 74. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph.
Weather
- 74°F air — ideal beach weather
- Sunny skies — clear conditions
Water
- 73°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — high surf advisory issued july 18 at 4:40am pdt until july 21 at 11:00pm pdt by nws san diego ca
59 /100
good
46 Swim
78 Sunbathe
86 Walk
38 Fish
81 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
High Surf High Surf Advisory
High Surf Advisory issued July 18 at 4:40AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet with sets up to 8 feet at south or southwest facing beaches. * WHERE...San Diego County Coastal Areas and Orange County Coastal Areas. * WHEN...From 5 PM Sunday to 11 PM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...South swell 4 to 5 feet coming from 180 to 200 degrees with a period of 13 seconds will generate high surf, primarily for south-facing beaches. Tides will generally be at or below 5.5 feet, but localized areas of beach erosion and minor tidal overflow may occur when combining with the high surf. Swell and surf will decrease by Wednesday.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
74°F
Clear
Wind
10 mph
SW
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
72°F
Mostly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
73°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.6 ft
15s · WSW swell
Water Quality
Elevated
111 MPN/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:54 AM
Sunset
11:02 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:10 AM | High | 5.5 ft |
| 6:58 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 1:37 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| 7:20 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:02 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 7:35 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 2:21 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 8:36 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:06 AM | High | 3.8 ft |
| 8:11 AM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| 3:09 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 10:08 PM | Low | 1.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:38 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 8:49 AM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| 4:02 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 11:41 PM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:54 AM | High | 2.8 ft |
| 9:37 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 4:57 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:53 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 7:54 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 10:49 AM | Low | 2.9 ft |
| 5:52 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:52 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 12:06 PM | Low | 3.0 ft |
| 6:41 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410660, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
72°
Mostly Sunny
2%
77
72°
Mostly Sunny
0%
77
74°
Mostly Sunny
5%
79
75°
Mostly Sunny
0%
80
76°
Mostly Sunny
1%
80
74°
Mostly Sunny
2%
83
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 73°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
1:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Major
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Minor
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Two paid lots near the pier (6 a.m.–10 p.m.) and metered Main Street parking.
Dogs
No dogs on the city beach or pier; leashed dogs OK elsewhere in town.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
Main St & Ocean Ave, Seal Beach, CA 90740
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Seal Beach today?
Seal Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Seal Beach dog-friendly?
No dogs on the city beach or pier; leashed dogs OK elsewhere in town.
Is there an entry fee at Seal Beach?
Entry to Seal Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Seal Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Seal Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Seal Beach?
Amenities at Seal Beach include restrooms, showers, lifeguard tower, pier.
When is the water warmest at Seal Beach?
The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.
Where is Seal Beach located?
Seal Beach is in Orange County, CA, at Main St & Ocean Ave, Seal Beach, CA 90740.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS