Swell Intel

Manhattan Beach Surf Forecast, Los Angeles County, California

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Los Angeles County, California

Bruce's Beach1-2ftEl Porto Beach1-2ftHermosa Beach0-1ft
Manhattan Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.4s
Wind
7mph
WNW / Gusts 8mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.6ft @ 11sSSW
Secondary
0.5ft @ 14sSW
Tertiary
0.4ft @ 2sW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Very Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly poor with light winds out of the E.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s SSW|5-8mph WNW
Thu, Apr 23-4ft
Poor - Fair

Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 9mph from the WNW.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s WSW|6-12mph WNW
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Sat
4ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

12s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Manhattan Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Heavy
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

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.

LocalismCrowdsStrong currents during high swell

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Manhattan Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Manhattan Beach?
The current wave height at Manhattan Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.4s swell period. Wind is WNW at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Manhattan Beach surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Manhattan Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Manhattan Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 0.6ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.4ft W tertiary 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.
When is the best time to surf Manhattan Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Manhattan Beach is Thursday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 5.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.