Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Morro Beach, 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: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with 8mph from the WSW.
Mon, May 11: 0–1ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light NNW winds.
Tue, May 12: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the S. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Wed, May 13: 0–1ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the S. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Thu, May 14: 0–1ft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with gentle SSE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Morro Beach in Orange County offers accessible sandy bottom waves that roll in with a northeast-facing exposure, making it ideal for learning and improving fundamentals. The beach break produces forgiving, peeling waves that work best during southern hemisphere swells combined with offshore northwest winds. This Orange County gem attracts a mix of locals and visitors seeking quality waves without the intensity of nearby point breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Morro Beach is 0-1ft with a 17.75s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Morro Beach is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft 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 Morro Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 14.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Morro 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 Morro 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.
Morro Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Morro Beach in Orange County offers accessible sandy bottom waves that roll in with a northeast-facing exposure, making it ideal for learning and improving fundamentals. The beach break produces forgiving, peeling waves that work best during southern hemisphere swells combined with offshore northwest winds. This Orange County gem attracts a mix of locals and visitors seeking quality waves without the intensity of nearby point breaks.
The prime season at Morro 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 Morro Beach include beach crowds during summer, shorebreak closeouts on larger swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Morro 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.
