Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sun, May 10: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Expect 2-3ft waves early on WSW swell at 9s.
Mon, May 11: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Expect 2-3ft all day on SSW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind — nothing amazing but surfable. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
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 light winds out of the SW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light winds out of the S. Afternoon breeze fills in to 12mph.
Thu, May 14: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the SSE. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 2-3ft 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 Manhattan Beach is 2-3ft, 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 Manhattan Beach is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 17.55s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
