Good morning, this is your El Porto surf forecast for Thursday, April 23rd. If you're thinking about paddling out this morning around dawn, here's what you're looking at.
We've got small, rideable waves in the 2 to 4 foot range, which means thigh to waist high faces depending on where you position yourself. The swell is coming from a mixed bag of directions—primarily from the west-northwest at 3 feet with some secondary energy trickling in from the west and northwest. For a beachbreak like El Porto, that's pretty typical spring action, and it should produce some scattered peaks across the sandbar.
Now, here's the trade-off: the wind situation. We're seeing northwest winds at 8 to 13 miles per hour with gusts up to 20, which is creating choppy, cross-shore conditions. It's manageable early on, but definitely not pristine. If you're hoping for glassy, offshore perfection, you'll want to wait and watch for those lighter winds or an east wind shift later in the day. That said, if you're a beginner to intermediate surfer with a shortboard or fish in your quiver, these mushy peaks are forgiving. Just be prepared for some chop and stay patient.
The tide picture is working against us slightly right now. We've got a morning high tide that happened around 1 AM, and the water is dropping toward a low around 9 AM PDT. Ironically, mid-tide windows tend to produce punchier, more defined peaks at El Porto, so if you can time it between now and mid-morning, you'll probably find the cleanest-shaped waves before the water gets too shallow.
Water temperature is sitting at about 62 degrees, so you'll definitely want a 3/2 millimeter fullsuit and booties. The air is mild at 64 to 70 degrees, but grab your SPF 50 because that sun reflects hard off the water and sand.
Here's the reality check: El Porto is one of the most crowded breaks in LA, especially on weekday mornings when people assume it won't be packed. It will be packed. Your best bet is to arrive pre-dawn, park legally at the Rosecrans or Valley Drive overlook, and walk in on foot. You'll beat the traffic, scout the conditions in person via that live cam at Rosecrans, and hopefully snag some elbow room before the masses roll in. Watch out for riptides and currents, especially if this swell picks up, and remember that the rocks at the south jetty demand respect.
If El Porto feels too crowded or the wind stays choppy, Hermosa and Playa del Rey are just a couple miles south with similar conditions, and they're typically a bit more mellow in terms of crowds.
Bottom line: get there early, bring a 5 to 6-foot board, suit up, and enjoy some fun spring beachbreak waves before the afternoon wind builds. Check Surfline or Magicseaweed for real-time updates and live cam feeds, because conditions can shift fast. Good luck out there.
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