Swell Intel

Shaw's Cove Surf Forecast, Orange County, California

Orange County, California

Crescent Bay0-1ftRockpile/Heisler Park0-1ftLaguna Beach (Thalia Street)0-1ft
Shaw's Cove surf spot

Current Conditions

Very Poor
Wave Height
0-1ft
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
11s
Wind
9mph
SSE / Gusts 15mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
0.9ft @ 3sS
Secondary
0.7ft @ 11sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 10sS

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 310-1ft
Very Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 10-1ft
Very Poor

Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with light NW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s S|3-7mph N
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

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

6am9am12pm3pm
12s S|6-7mph NW
Sign up to unlockFree — no credit card
Sat

Forecast Charts

Shaw's Cove Surf Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
SSW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

Shaw's Cove is a protected rocky reef break tucked into a scenic Laguna Beach cove, offering consistent, well-formed waves that peel along the reef structure. The break faces northeast and works best with southern or southwestern swells, channeled by the cove's natural geography to create organized peeling waves. This spot balances accessibility with quality, providing solid waves for intermediate surfers while the scenic cliffs and relatively protected setting make it a favorite destination.

RocksShallow reefSea urchinsLocalism

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

Shaw's Cove Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Shaw's Cove?
The current wave height at Shaw's Cove is 0-1ft with a 11s swell period. Wind is SSE at 9mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Shaw's Cove surf forecast?
Our Shaw's Cove 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 Shaw's Cove?
The current breaking wave height at Shaw's Cove is 0-1ft, produced by a 0.9ft S primary swell at 3s, a 0.7ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 0.7ft S tertiary swell at 10s. 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 Shaw's Cove?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Shaw's Cove is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 14.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.