Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at HB Cliffs for the cleanest windows.
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 5mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on SSW swell at 16s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor conditions with moderate SE wind around 11mph.
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 2ft with a 16.8s swell period. Wind is WSW at 10mph 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 HB Cliffs is 2ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 1.2ft WSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 15.85s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
