Orange County, California
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with gentle E breeze.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with gentle E breeze.
Best window·Sunday 10AM–1PM·3-4ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light winds out of the E.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on SSW swell at 18s.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on S swell at 13s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Afternoon is the play — morning is only fair at 2-3+ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at fair - good.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on S swell at 13s with gentle NW breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Shaw's Cove turns Good.
Check Shaw's Cove from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 0-1ft with a 10.6s swell period. Wind is SE at 4mph. Conditions are rated Very 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 0-1ft, produced by a 1.8ft SSW primary swell at 11s, a 1.7ft W wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.1ft SSW tertiary swell at 15s, a 0.9ft SSE wind swell 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Shaw's Cove is Sunday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 13.9s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. 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).
