Los Angeles County, California
Best window·Thursday 9AM–12PM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Manhattan Beach, Los Angeles 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 5s with calm winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WSW swell at 5s with light SSW winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 5s with light SSW winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 5s with gentle SE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SW swell at 12s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Manhattan Beach offers consistent, user-friendly beach breaks that roll through a wide sandy shoreline, making it an excellent spot for beginners and improving surfers. The ENE-facing beach receives clean swell from southern and southwestern directions, particularly during fall and winter swells. This popular LA County break attracts a large crowd due to its accessible lineup, nearby amenities, and relatively forgiving wave conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Manhattan Beach is 2ft with a 13.75s swell period. Wind is WNW at 5mph 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 Manhattan Beach is 2ft, produced by a 1ft WSW primary swell at 5s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Manhattan Beach is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 15.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach. 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.
Manhattan Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Manhattan Beach offers consistent, user-friendly beach breaks that roll through a wide sandy shoreline, making it an excellent spot for beginners and improving surfers. The ENE-facing beach receives clean swell from southern and southwestern directions, particularly during fall and winter swells. This popular LA County break attracts a large crowd due to its accessible lineup, nearby amenities, and relatively forgiving wave conditions.
The prime season at Manhattan Beach 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 Manhattan Beach include localism, crowds, strong currents during high swell. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Manhattan Beach 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.
