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Wild Wedge wakes up with season’s first big south swell

March 13, 2026

The wicked Wedge has awoken from its winter slumber.

An early-season south swell rolled into Southern California this week, bringing big waves — and big dangers — across south-facing beaches.

At the Wedge in Newport Beach, a unique wave that bounces off a rock jetty to “wedge” up and double in size, waves were in the 8- to 10-foot range — with some sets hitting bigger than 12 feet on Thursday, March 12.

Surfers ride the first south swell of the season as it brings big waves to the Wedge in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Surfers ride the first south swell of the season as it brings big waves to the Wedge in Newport Beach, CA, on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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The strong surf started showing up on Wednesday and is expected to hang around through next week. It was creating good surf conditions at several breaks.

San Clemente surfer Brandon Sinden, 27, hobbled his way up the sand at Doheny State Beach, where he and dozens of others showed up to ride waves. He had fractured his foot last week in a motorcycle accident, but didn’t want to miss out on the first south swell of the season.

“Anytime in the water is healing,” he said. “Getting out in the sun, it brightens the spirits. I always say the energy of the ocean is healing.”

Huntington Beach and areas of Newport Beach had waves in the 5- to 8-foot range and were expecting 4 -to 6-foot surf through next week, with a slight drop Thursday and Friday before beefing up again leading into next weekend, according to Surfline.com.

Areas of the South Bay were also seeing elevated surf, in the 2- to 4-foot range, though not as large as beaches further south in Orange County.

At the same time, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory through Friday. With warm weather expected the next few days, and spring breakers out of school enjoying the coast, beachgoers are warned to stay clear of areas with strong surf and rip currents that can pull swimmers and surfers out to sea.

Always check with a lifeguard before entering the water.

“Spring break is here, we expect heavy crowds from people out from schools all over, even out of state,” said Newport Beach Marine Safety Chief Brian O’Rourke. “With these high temps and big surf that will produce rip currents, we expect hazardous conditions. We want people to use caution and check with lifeguards before they go in the water.”

The department will be staffing up for the crowds and will have all towers open, he said.

“We really urge people to swim near an open lifeguard tower,” O’Rourke said.

Sebastian Westerink, meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said a beach advisory or warning was not issued because the big waves were “localized” only at south-facing beaches, with Huntington Beach showing the largest in size.

Though no advisory, he warned the long-period swell will have “sneaker sets” that could catch people off guard.

“There’s just more wave energy,” he said. “Just be careful, be alert for these sneaker waves and rip currents. The energy in the ocean is going to be stronger in general.”

The weather will be drawing crowds to the beach, with temperatures toward inland areas in the upper 80s and low 90s on Friday and even warmer by next week. Even at the beach, temps will be in the 80s.

South swells typically show up in summer seasons, April at the earliest. But the mid-March appearance had surfers buzzing Thursday with excitement.

At the Wedge, there would be moments when the ocean appeared flat, followed by bumps on the horizon growing, then suddenly jacking up to form building-size peaks, slamming on shore to the thrill of spectators who lined the sand to watch.

Mike Maccarone, also of San Clemente, made the pilgrimage to the Wedge, a favorite among bodyboarders. One big set nearly swept him into the rock jetty.

“I was out there weathering the storm,” he joked on the sand.

The first south swell, sunny skies and light wind were a pleasant surprise so early in the season.

“Everything really came together well today,” he said.

Kevin “Mel” Thoman, a longtime bodysurfer who, since the ’70s, has been part of the “Wedge Crew,” showed up to watch the waves, calling the early arrival of a big south swell in mid-March “historic.”

Thoman, 69, has ridden waves here for more than 50 years and knows the lure of the wicked Wedge.

“It’s very addictive, I think the adrenaline, the rush,” he said. “It’s intense.”

Whenever a big swell hits, the crowds show up to cheer on those who brave the waves.

“I think people like watching Nascar for the crashes. There’s a lot of crash-and-burn out here,” Thoman said. “If I was physically able, I would be out there.”

But the wave, he warns, is expert only.

“The sand is extremely hard,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, a lot of times you’re going to take a pounding and you’re going to get hurt. That’s the price you pay, the price of admission.”

Wild Wedge wakes up with season’s first big south swell Orange County Register

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Wild Wedge wakes up with season’s first big south swell

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