Los Angeles County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Malibu - First Point, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Afternoon is the play — morning is only fair at 2-3ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at 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 WSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with light ESE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with light ESE winds. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor by then.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 1-2ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3ft at poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Malibu First Point is the most famous right point break in the world — a World Surfing Reserve where cobblestone bottom creates mechanical, 200-yard peeling rights on south swells. The wave is slow and forgiving enough for beginners but the crowd is not: 40-100 surfers pack the lineup on good days, with experienced longboarders dominating the takeoff zone. Functionally intermediate due to crowd navigation alone.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Malibu - First Point is 2-3+ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is WSW at 5mph 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 Malibu - First Point is 2-3+ft, produced by a 0.9ft WSW primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.5ft S 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 Malibu - First Point is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Malibu - First Point 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 Malibu - First Point. 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.
Malibu - First Point is a point with a cobblestone bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Malibu First Point is the most famous right point break in the world — a World Surfing Reserve where cobblestone bottom creates mechanical, 200-yard peeling rights on south swells. The wave is slow and forgiving enough for beginners but the crowd is not: 40-100 surfers pack the lineup on good days, with experienced longboarders dominating the takeoff zone. Functionally intermediate due to crowd navigation alone.
The prime season at Malibu - First Point is summer, 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 Malibu - First Point include extreme crowds, aggressive longboard priority, cobblestone bottom, parking and access chaos. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Malibu - First Point 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.
