Manresa State Beach Surf Forecast, Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz County, California

Right nowPoor - Fair
2-3ft

Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with calm winds and fair - good conditions.

Swell
1.9ft
15s · SSW
Wind
9mph
WSW · Onshore
Water
62°F
3/2 fullsuit
Tide
High
falling · low 4:51 AM

Best window·Thursday 6AM9AM·2-3ft·Fair

Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Manresa State Beach turns Good.

Manresa State Beach 5-Day Forecast Summary

Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Manresa State Beach, Santa Cruz County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.

Wed, Jul 22: 23+ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with calm winds and fair - good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.

Thu, Jul 23: 23ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 14s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 6mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.

Fri, Jul 24: 23ft, 24s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 13s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 6mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.

Sat, Jul 25: 23ft, 22s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 13s with calm winds. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and poor by then.

Sun, Jul 26: 23+ft, 20s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SW swell at 20s with barely a breath of wind. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor by then.

Daily Forecast

Try free
to unlock
7 days free · no card
Locked
Locked

Check Manresa State Beach from the lineup

Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.

Get the app

Manresa State Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
WSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

Manresa is a long wide-open South County beach break roughly twenty-five minutes from Santa Cruz, offering plenty of space to spread out and pick your own peak. It is smaller than the North Coast on average but picks up SW and W swells well, producing forgiving shifting sand peaks ideal for intermediates and fitness sessions. A quiet alternative to the packed town lineups.

Rip currentsCold waterShifting sandbars

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

Manresa State Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

(9)

What is the current surf forecast for Manresa State Beach?

The current wave height at Manresa State Beach is 2-3ft with a 7.85s swell period. Wind is WSW at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.

What is the breaking wave height at Manresa State Beach?

The current breaking wave height at Manresa State Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.9ft SSW primary swell at 15s, a 1ft WNW secondary swell at 12s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 12s, a 3.4ft SSW wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Manresa State Beach?

Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Manresa State Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 14.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.

What swell and wind direction work best at Manresa State Beach?

Manresa State Beach works best with a WSW 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.

What tide is best at Manresa State Beach?

Tide plays a big role at Manresa State 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.

What kind of wave is Manresa State Beach and who is it for?

Manresa State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Manresa is a long wide-open South County beach break roughly twenty-five minutes from Santa Cruz, offering plenty of space to spread out and pick your own peak. It is smaller than the North Coast on average but picks up SW and W swells well, producing forgiving shifting sand peaks ideal for intermediates and fitness sessions. A quiet alternative to the packed town lineups.

When is the best season to surf Manresa State Beach?

The prime season at Manresa State 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.

Are there any hazards to know about at Manresa State Beach?

Common hazards at Manresa State Beach include rip currents, cold water, shifting sandbars. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.

How accurate is the Manresa State Beach surf forecast?

Our Manresa State 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).