Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Crescent Bay for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crescent Bay, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and barely a breath of wind. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph SE winds.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor conditions with 11mph from the SSE.
Crescent Bay is a picturesque sandy beach break located in Laguna Beach, offering mellow, rolling waves that peel across a wide sandy bottom—making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. The bay's crescent shape naturally focuses swell energy and provides natural protection from offshore winds, creating consistent waist-to-chest-high peaks throughout much of the year. This beloved local break draws crowds due to its accessibility, scenic cove setting, and reliable conditions, especially during southern hemisphere swell season.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crescent Bay is 2ft with a 16.9s swell period. Wind is W at 8mph 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 Crescent Bay is 2ft, produced by a 1.6ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 1.5ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft WSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Crescent Bay is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.95s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crescent Bay works best with a S swell and NE 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 Crescent Bay. 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.
Crescent Bay is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Crescent Bay is a picturesque sandy beach break located in Laguna Beach, offering mellow, rolling waves that peel across a wide sandy bottom—making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. The bay's crescent shape naturally focuses swell energy and provides natural protection from offshore winds, creating consistent waist-to-chest-high peaks throughout much of the year. This beloved local break draws crowds due to its accessibility, scenic cove setting, and reliable conditions, especially during southern hemisphere swell season.
The prime season at Crescent Bay 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 Crescent Bay include heavy crowds, localism, rocks at north end of bay. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crescent Bay 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
