Orange County, California
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and 8mph SSE winds.
Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 11s and 8mph SSE winds.
Best window·Sunday 11AM–2PM·2-3+ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Crescent Bay, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 11s with 8mph from the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light ENE winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 13s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3+ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3+ft on S swell at 14s with gentle WNW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on S swell at 13s with gentle NW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Crescent Bay turns Good.
Check Crescent Bay from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Crescent Bay is a picturesque sandy beach break located in Laguna Beach, offering mellow, rolling waves that peel across a wide sandy bottom—making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. The bay's crescent shape naturally focuses swell energy and provides natural protection from offshore winds, creating consistent waist-to-chest-high peaks throughout much of the year. This beloved local break draws crowds due to its accessibility, scenic cove setting, and reliable conditions, especially during southern hemisphere swell season.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Crescent Bay is 1-2ft with a 10.4s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Crescent Bay is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 10s, a 1.7ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s, a 1ft SSE 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 Crescent Bay is Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 3ft waves, a 13.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Crescent Bay 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 Crescent Bay. 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.
Crescent Bay is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Crescent Bay is a picturesque sandy beach break located in Laguna Beach, offering mellow, rolling waves that peel across a wide sandy bottom—making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. The bay's crescent shape naturally focuses swell energy and provides natural protection from offshore winds, creating consistent waist-to-chest-high peaks throughout much of the year. This beloved local break draws crowds due to its accessibility, scenic cove setting, and reliable conditions, especially during southern hemisphere swell season.
The prime season at Crescent Bay 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 Crescent Bay include heavy crowds, localism, rocks at north end of bay. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Crescent Bay 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
