Surf's up, wave riders! It's time to break down the coastal conditions for Southern California's hottest beach zones.

Orange County and San Diego are serving up some seriously spicy surf today. We're looking at a mixed swell coming from two directions - a south swell rolling in at 190 degrees and a west swell cruising at 280 degrees. Translation: complex wave patterns that'll keep things interesting.

Orange County's getting the wild ride today with a high rip current risk and surf heights climbing 3 to 5 feet. Water's sitting at a chilly 59 to 64 degrees, so you'll want that wetsuit. Newport Beach tides are dancing between -0.9 and 3.1 feet throughout the day.

San Diego County's slightly tamer but still packing a punch with moderate rip current risk and surf heights between 2 to 4 feet. La Jolla's waters are hovering around 59 to 62 degrees - still wetsuit territory.

For both regions, the Friday forecast looks pretty consistent. Rip current risk drops to moderate, with surf maintaining similar heights. Tides will continue their rhythmic push and pull, creating dynamic conditions for experienced surfers.

Bottom line: Strong currents mean serious caution. If you're not a seasoned swimmer or surfer, today might be better for beach lounging than wave catching. Stay alert, respect the ocean, and paddle smart.

Catch you on the waves, beach lovers!