Los Angeles County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at El Porto Beach, Los Angeles 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with calm winds and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and gentle SW breeze. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 6s with 8mph ESE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 6s with 10mph ESE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
El Porto Beach is a accessible sandy beach break located in Manhattan Beach that offers mellow, rolling waves ideal for learning and progression. The spot works best during autumn swells when Southern Hemisphere storms send consistent energy across the Pacific, and offshore northwest winds groom the faces in the mornings. As one of the most populated and developed beach breaks in LA County, expect significant crowds and a social atmosphere, especially on weekends.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at El Porto Beach is 2-4+ft with a 16.7s swell period. Wind is W at 8mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at El Porto Beach is 2-4+ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.9ft WSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 El Porto Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
El Porto Beach works best with a SW 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 El Porto Beach. 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.
El Porto Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. El Porto Beach is a accessible sandy beach break located in Manhattan Beach that offers mellow, rolling waves ideal for learning and progression. The spot works best during autumn swells when Southern Hemisphere storms send consistent energy across the Pacific, and offshore northwest winds groom the faces in the mornings. As one of the most populated and developed beach breaks in LA County, expect significant crowds and a social atmosphere, especially on weekends.
The prime season at El Porto Beach 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 El Porto Beach include heavy crowds, swimmers, pier pilings to the north, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our El Porto Beach 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.
