The Wedge
United States · North America
Right now
DrizzleWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.4m S
Wind: 7 km/h NW (cross-offshore)
Beach faces: SSW
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 08:40Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 3/2mm wetsuit or spring suit for 18°C water.
- Small waves expected. Longboard or fish to make the most of it.
- Rain jacket for between sessions.
Today's briefing
0.4m swell at 15s with good period. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 18°C.
AI-generated summary for The Wedge. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at The Wedge
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 11am (score: 11). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at The Wedge.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About The Wedge
The Wedge is a notoriously violent, high-consequence shorebreak located at the end of the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach, California. The bathymetry relies entirely on a steeply graded silica sandbank that drops off sharply right at the shoreline, heavily influenced by the adjacent man-made rock jetty. As long-period southerly groundswells approach, they reflect directly off this stone structure. This refracted energy intersects with the primary incoming wave, creating a pronounced, amplifying wedge effect. A north-easterly offshore wind holds up the massive faces momentarily before they collapse. The wave breaks with immense hydraulic force, delivering a near-vertical take-off that transitions instantly into a heavy, plunging lip detonating in mere inches of water. Because the energy is concentrated so violently onto the shallow sand, it creates brutal hold-downs and severe spinal injury risks. Consequently, The Wedge is strictly reserved for advanced and expert surfers, bodyboarders, and bodysurfers who possess elite physical endurance and split-second reflex capabilities.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at The Wedge. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf The Wedge?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.