Orange County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at The Wedge, Orange County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with gentle SSW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the SW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Expect 1-2ft waves early on W swell at 8s.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with moderate SE wind around 10mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 11mph.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 10mph.
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The Wedge is one of the most famous and dangerous shore breaks in the world, created when south swells reflect off the 2,000-foot Newport Harbor jetty and merge with incoming waves to produce massive "double-up" peaks that can reach 30 feet. The shallow sand and steep beach create an explosive shore break that attracts elite bodysurfers and bodyboarders. Standup surfing is effectively prohibited during summer. Backwash colliding with incoming sets adds lethal unpredictability.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at The Wedge is 2-3ft with a 15.1s swell period. Wind is WSW at 3mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at The Wedge is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.4ft SSW primary swell at 15s, a 1.2ft W secondary swell at 7s, a 1ft S tertiary swell at 12s. 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 The Wedge is Saturday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 3ft waves, a 15.1s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
The Wedge works best with a S 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 The Wedge. 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.
The Wedge is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to expert surfers. The Wedge is one of the most famous and dangerous shore breaks in the world, created when south swells reflect off the 2,000-foot Newport Harbor jetty and merge with incoming waves to produce massive "double-up" peaks that can reach 30 feet. The shallow sand and steep beach create an explosive shore break that attracts elite bodysurfers and bodyboarders. Standup surfing is effectively prohibited during summer. Backwash colliding with incoming sets adds lethal unpredictability.
The prime season at The Wedge is summer, 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 The Wedge include extremely heavy shorebreak, backwash, shallow sand, spinal injuries, crowds of spectators. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our The Wedge 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
