Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Blackies for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Blackies, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–1ft, 19s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1ft and mostly poor with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1ft and poor conditions with gentle SSE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–1ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Blackies is a longboard culture wave between the 28th Street jetty and Newport Pier, named for the historic bar that once stood on the shore. Peaky sandbars create fun noseriding sections on smaller days and the wave can get surprisingly hollow and powerful on solid swells. While beginners gravitate here on mellow days, Blackies has a dedicated longboard crew and a cultural identity that rewards intermediate-level wave knowledge.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Blackies is 1ft with a 13.85s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Blackies is 1ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft W secondary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Blackies is Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 1ft waves, a 16.5s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Blackies works best with a SSW swell and E 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 Blackies. 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.
Blackies is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Blackies is a longboard culture wave between the 28th Street jetty and Newport Pier, named for the historic bar that once stood on the shore. Peaky sandbars create fun noseriding sections on smaller days and the wave can get surprisingly hollow and powerful on solid swells. While beginners gravitate here on mellow days, Blackies has a dedicated longboard crew and a cultural identity that rewards intermediate-level wave knowledge.
The prime season at Blackies 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 Blackies include crowded during peak times, occasional strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Blackies 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.
