Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at HB Cliffs, 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: flat–flatft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 0-1ft and very poor early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions.
Mon, May 18: flat–flatft, 13s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — Flat and very poor with 12mph SE winds.
Tue, May 19: flat–flatft, 16s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — Flat and very poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
Wed, May 20: 0–1ft, 14s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
HB Cliffs is a sandy beach break located along Huntington Beach's iconic coastal bluffs, offering accessible waves that peel along the shoreline. The spot benefits from the natural geography of the Orange County coastline, which funnels Southern Hemisphere and Southern California swell effectively. With its sandy bottom and forgiving nature, this break is perfect for building fundamentals while enjoying one of Southern California's most scenic coastal viewpoints.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at HB Cliffs is 0-1ft with a 15.4s swell period. Wind is SSW at 1mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at HB Cliffs is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.1ft W primary swell at 6s, a 0.9ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft SSW 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 HB Cliffs is Sunday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 2ft waves, a 13.45s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
HB Cliffs works best with a SSW 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 HB Cliffs. 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.
HB Cliffs is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. HB Cliffs is a sandy beach break located along Huntington Beach's iconic coastal bluffs, offering accessible waves that peel along the shoreline. The spot benefits from the natural geography of the Orange County coastline, which funnels Southern Hemisphere and Southern California swell effectively. With its sandy bottom and forgiving nature, this break is perfect for building fundamentals while enjoying one of Southern California's most scenic coastal viewpoints.
The prime season at HB Cliffs 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 HB Cliffs include cliffs, occasional rip currents, crowded during summer. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our HB Cliffs 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.
