Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at HB Cliffs, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 2-3ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 2-3ft and poor - fair.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Consistent 2-3ft surf through the day on SSW swell at 17s with light winds out of the NW.
Tue, May 12: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with gentle SSE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light S winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with gentle SSE breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
HB Cliffs is a sandy beach break located along Huntington Beach's iconic coastal bluffs, offering accessible waves that peel along the shoreline. The spot benefits from the natural geography of the Orange County coastline, which funnels Southern Hemisphere and Southern California swell effectively. With its sandy bottom and forgiving nature, this break is perfect for building fundamentals while enjoying one of Southern California's most scenic coastal viewpoints.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at HB Cliffs is 2-3ft with a 17.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at HB Cliffs is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft WSW primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.6ft SSW 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 HB Cliffs is Sunday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 17.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
HB Cliffs works best with a SSW 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 HB Cliffs. 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.
HB Cliffs is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. HB Cliffs is a sandy beach break located along Huntington Beach's iconic coastal bluffs, offering accessible waves that peel along the shoreline. The spot benefits from the natural geography of the Orange County coastline, which funnels Southern Hemisphere and Southern California swell effectively. With its sandy bottom and forgiving nature, this break is perfect for building fundamentals while enjoying one of Southern California's most scenic coastal viewpoints.
The prime season at HB Cliffs 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 HB Cliffs include cliffs, occasional rip currents, crowded during summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our HB Cliffs 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.
