Los Angeles County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Manhattan 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: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-5ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and glassy conditions. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-5ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with light winds out of the WSW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 15s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–5ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light ESE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly poor - fair with 11mph ESE winds.
Manhattan Beach offers consistent, user-friendly beach breaks that roll through a wide sandy shoreline, making it an excellent spot for beginners and improving surfers. The ENE-facing beach receives clean swell from southern and southwestern directions, particularly during fall and winter swells. This popular LA County break attracts a large crowd due to its accessible lineup, nearby amenities, and relatively forgiving wave conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Manhattan Beach is 2-4+ft with a 16.85s 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 Manhattan Beach is 2-4+ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.3ft SW tertiary swell at 15s, a 0.7ft WSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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 Manhattan Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 15.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan 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.
Manhattan Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Manhattan Beach offers consistent, user-friendly beach breaks that roll through a wide sandy shoreline, making it an excellent spot for beginners and improving surfers. The ENE-facing beach receives clean swell from southern and southwestern directions, particularly during fall and winter swells. This popular LA County break attracts a large crowd due to its accessible lineup, nearby amenities, and relatively forgiving wave conditions.
The prime season at Manhattan 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 Manhattan Beach include localism, crowds, strong currents during high swell. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Manhattan 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.
