Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at 36th St Newport, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on S swell at 13s with gentle SW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 3-4ft and mostly poor - fair with 12mph SSE winds.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with 10mph from the SE.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on WSW swell at 7s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
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36th St Newport is a popular beach break in the heart of Newport Beach's residential zone, offering consistent, user-friendly waves that peel along a sandy bottom. The NE-facing orientation means it catches south and southwest swells best, with the most reliable conditions arriving during fall and winter months. This accessible break draws plenty of surfers due to its proximity to town amenities and relatively forgiving wave quality, making it ideal for intermediate learners and longboarders.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at 36th St Newport is 3-4ft with a 15.35s swell period. Wind is W at 2mph 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 36th St Newport is 3-4ft, produced by a 1.3ft S primary swell at 13s, a 1ft W secondary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft S 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 36th St Newport is Saturday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 15.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
36th St Newport 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 36th St Newport. 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.
36th St Newport is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 36th St Newport is a popular beach break in the heart of Newport Beach's residential zone, offering consistent, user-friendly waves that peel along a sandy bottom. The NE-facing orientation means it catches south and southwest swells best, with the most reliable conditions arriving during fall and winter months. This accessible break draws plenty of surfers due to its proximity to town amenities and relatively forgiving wave quality, making it ideal for intermediate learners and longboarders.
The prime season at 36th St Newport 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 36th St Newport include heavy localism, crowded lineup, swimmers, pier pilings nearby. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our 36th St Newport 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.
