Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Newport 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 2-3ft waves. Afternoon shapes up better with 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 17s with light winds out of the NW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with light SSE winds. The SSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with gentle S breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 13s and light SSE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Newport Beach offers mellow, rolling beach breaks along a wide sandy coastline, making it an ideal spot for beginners and family surfers looking to practice in approachable conditions. The consistent sandbars produce forgiving waves that work well during autumn swells, though the spot can get crowded due to its proximity to the affluent Newport Beach community. With its protected bay-like setting and easy beach access, this is a go-to destination for learning fundamentals in Southern California.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Newport Beach is 2-3+ft with a 17.75s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph 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 Newport Beach is 2-3+ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 18s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 6s, a 0.8ft 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 Newport Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Newport Beach works best with a S 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 Newport 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.
Newport Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Newport Beach offers mellow, rolling beach breaks along a wide sandy coastline, making it an ideal spot for beginners and family surfers looking to practice in approachable conditions. The consistent sandbars produce forgiving waves that work well during autumn swells, though the spot can get crowded due to its proximity to the affluent Newport Beach community. With its protected bay-like setting and easy beach access, this is a go-to destination for learning fundamentals in Southern California.
The prime season at Newport 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 Newport Beach include heavy crowds, swimmers, piers nearby. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Newport 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.
