Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Crescent Bay for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on SSW swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and light winds out of the S. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 19s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SSE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on SSW swell at 15s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
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 13.9s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph 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 Crescent Bay is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft W secondary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft 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 Crescent Bay is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 14.15s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
