Los Angeles County, California
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.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 7s and glassy conditions. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on W swell at 8s with light E winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 7s and 9mph from the SE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 22s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 13mph.
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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 2-3ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is WNW at 2mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Manhattan Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.2ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.4ft 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 Manhattan Beach is Saturday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.5s 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
