Los Angeles County, California
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with light winds out of the S.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 1-2ft with light winds out of the S.
Best window·Monday 9AM–12PM·2-3+ft·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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, gentle S breeze, poor - fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on SSW swell at 18s with 8mph from the E. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 16s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on S swell at 14s with light WSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on S swell at 13s and glassy conditions. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and very poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Manhattan Beach turns Good.
Check Manhattan Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 5.1s swell period. Wind is SSE at 4mph. 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 1-2ft, produced by a 1.6ft W wind swell swell at 5s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1ft 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 Monday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 12.6s 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
