Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. 3-4ft waves to start the day on WSW swell at 9s.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft all day on SSW swell at 16s with glassy conditions — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and gentle SW breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and light winds out of the S. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 13s with light winds out of the SSE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 3-4ft with a 17.6s swell period. Wind is WSW 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 3-4ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
