Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at The Wedge, 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Patience pays off today — morning is fair with 3-4ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at poor - fair.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 17s and light winds out of the NNW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with gentle S breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with light S winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 1-2ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
The Wedge is one of the most famous and dangerous shore breaks in the world, created when south swells reflect off the 2,000-foot Newport Harbor jetty and merge with incoming waves to produce massive "double-up" peaks that can reach 30 feet. The shallow sand and steep beach create an explosive shore break that attracts elite bodysurfers and bodyboarders. Standup surfing is effectively prohibited during summer. Backwash colliding with incoming sets adds lethal unpredictability.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Wedge is 3-4+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 The Wedge is 3-4+ft, 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 The Wedge 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.
The Wedge 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 The Wedge. 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.
The Wedge is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to expert surfers. The Wedge is one of the most famous and dangerous shore breaks in the world, created when south swells reflect off the 2,000-foot Newport Harbor jetty and merge with incoming waves to produce massive "double-up" peaks that can reach 30 feet. The shallow sand and steep beach create an explosive shore break that attracts elite bodysurfers and bodyboarders. Standup surfing is effectively prohibited during summer. Backwash colliding with incoming sets adds lethal unpredictability.
The prime season at The Wedge 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 The Wedge include extremely heavy shorebreak, backwash, shallow sand, spinal injuries, crowds of spectators. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our The Wedge 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.
