Orange County, California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
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.
Wed, Jun 24: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-5ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 4mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–5ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 6s with 10mph from the SE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 7s with moderate SE wind around 12mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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 2-4+ft with a 16.75s 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 The Wedge is 2-4+ft, produced by a 2.2ft SSW primary swell at 17s, a 0.8ft WSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.75s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
