Orange County, California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Shaw's Cove for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Shaw's Cove, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 12mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–1ft, 18s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with light W winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 19s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and very poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the SSE. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Shaw's Cove is 1ft with a 13.75s swell period. Wind is S at 4mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Shaw's Cove is 1ft, produced by a 1.2ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft W secondary swell at 5s, a 0.8ft 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Shaw's Cove is Tuesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 1ft waves, a 13.75s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Shaw's Cove 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 Shaw's Cove. 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.
Shaw's Cove is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Shaw's Cove 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 Shaw's Cove include rocks, shallow reef, sea urchins, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
