BreakAtlas
rebuilt 4:16 AM CDT

Orange County

The Wedge surf report

2.6ft

Fun-sized — 2.6 ft.

NDBC 46285 updated 1:26 AM

Thursday, August 13 · local time at the spot

Right now

Swell

2.6 ft

17 s · SW214°

NDBC 46285 updated 1:26 AM

Wind

This buoy carries no anemometer, so there is no wind reading here.

Water temperature

71.2°F

21.8 °C

NDBC 46285 updated 1:26 AM

Daylight

6:12 AM

sunrise · sunset 7:39 PM

Solunar, computed updated 2:15 AM

Tide

Currently falling — next low at 4:32 AM (-0.95 ft)

TimeTideHeight
4:32 AM low -0.95 ft
10:51 AM high 4.855 ft
4:15 PM low 1.298 ft
10:21 PM high 6.418 ft
NOAA CO-OPS 9410580 updated 2:15 AM

Tide values are predictions. Wind, pressure and surge move the real water level, sometimes by a lot — see the disclaimer.

Forecast

Model output, not a measurement — NOAA WaveWatch III

DayHeight PeriodDirection
Wed 1 ft 11.9 s N 2°
Thu 1 ft 12.4 s N 2°
Fri 1 ft 11.3 s N 2°
Sat 1.6 ft 16.6 s NNE 16°
Sun 1.5 ft 15.3 s NNE 19°
Mon 1.6 ft 5.5 s E 88°
NOAA WaveWatch III 46253 updated 2:15 AM

A model computes; it does not observe. Accuracy drops with range, and nearshore transformation is where it is weakest.

What to wear

At 71.2 °F (21.8 °C), most people at The Wedge are comfortable in a 2 mm shorty or spring suit.

2 mm

for 68–72 °F

Short arms and legs. Enough for a couple of hours; wind changes that quickly.

The temperature is measured. The suit recommendation is not — it follows the manufacturers' convention, which varies by a degree or two between brands, and it knows nothing about wind, session length or how you personally run. The full chart and what it leaves out.

Surf cam

No cam here yet. We operate no cameras of our own and embed only where the operator allows it — the rule is on the copyright page. Cam operators who would like a link are welcome to write.

The break

Type
Wedging shorebreak against the harbour jetty
Best swell
Steep S to SSW groundswell
Best wind
Light offshore or calm
Tide
All tides
Level
Experts only

Hazards

  • Wave breaks in inches of water onto sand
  • Spinal and neck injuries are routine here
  • Board restrictions in summer

Local knowledge, not a measurement. Conditions decide the day — check the National Weather Service for warnings and the lifeguards for whether to go in.

Every source behind this page

  • Solunar computed · read 2:15 AM
  • NOAA WaveWatch III 46253 model cycle 20260813 0z · model · read 2:15 AM
  • NDBC 46285 buoy wave height · read 1:26 AM
  • NOAA CO-OPS 9410580 tide predictions · read 2:15 AM

All of it is public NOAA and National Weather Service data, free for anyone to use. What we add is the pairing of this spot with these stations — see the terms.

Nearby spots

Surf and beach conditions change faster than this page does, and nobody watches it in real time. When the water looks different from the numbers, trust the water and the lifeguards.