Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Blackies, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate WSW wind around 7mph.
Mon, May 11: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light NW winds.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light S winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with gentle S breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light SSE winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Blackies is a longboard culture wave between the 28th Street jetty and Newport Pier, named for the historic bar that once stood on the shore. Peaky sandbars create fun noseriding sections on smaller days and the wave can get surprisingly hollow and powerful on solid swells. While beginners gravitate here on mellow days, Blackies has a dedicated longboard crew and a cultural identity that rewards intermediate-level wave knowledge.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Blackies is 1-2ft with a 17.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Blackies is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft S tertiary swell at 14s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Blackies is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 14.35s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Blackies works best with a SSW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Blackies. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Blackies is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Blackies is a longboard culture wave between the 28th Street jetty and Newport Pier, named for the historic bar that once stood on the shore. Peaky sandbars create fun noseriding sections on smaller days and the wave can get surprisingly hollow and powerful on solid swells. While beginners gravitate here on mellow days, Blackies has a dedicated longboard crew and a cultural identity that rewards intermediate-level wave knowledge.
The prime season at Blackies is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Blackies include crowded during peak times, occasional strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Blackies forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
