70°
Mostly Sunny
2%
78
Orange County, CA · Pacific Ocean
Newport Beach
21st St & W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Six miles of Pacific sand on the Balboa Peninsula — two piers (Newport and Balboa), the iconic Balboa Pavilion and Fun Zone, the bodysurfing-legendary Wedge at the far south tip (waves can reach 30 feet on a south swell). 33rd Street has the laid-back surf vibe; main downtown is along Newport Blvd.
Today's Conditions
Great day for a beach walk.
NWS alert active · 73°F water
Full NWS forecast for This Afternoon
Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind around 10 mph.
Tonight
Patchy fog after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 5 to 10 mph.
Weather
- 70°F air — cool but workable
- Sunny skies — mostly sunny
Water
- 73°F water — swimmable, refreshing
Safety
- UV 11 (extreme) — spf 50+ mandatory, limit mid-day exposure
- NWS alert active — high surf advisory issued july 18 at 4:40am pdt until july 21 at 11:00pm pdt by nws san diego ca
58 /100
good
41 Swim
71 Sunbathe
82 Walk
34 Fish
78 Photo
Best for walking today
Water level 0.6 ft above predicted
Observed water level is running higher than the astronomical tide prediction. Expect a narrower beach, faster-rising water, and stronger near-shore currents than the tide chart suggests.
High Surf High Surf Advisory
High Surf Advisory issued July 18 at 4:40AM PDT until July 21 at 11:00PM PDT by NWS San Diego CA
Full NWS statement
* WHAT...Large breaking waves of 4 to 7 feet with sets up to 8 feet at south or southwest facing beaches. * WHERE...San Diego County Coastal Areas and Orange County Coastal Areas. * WHEN...From 5 PM Sunday to 11 PM PDT Tuesday. * IMPACTS...Dangerous swimming and surfing conditions and localized beach erosion. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...South swell 4 to 5 feet coming from 180 to 200 degrees with a period of 13 seconds will generate high surf, primarily for south-facing beaches. Tides will generally be at or below 5.5 feet, but localized areas of beach erosion and minor tidal overflow may occur when combining with the high surf. Swell and surf will decrease by Wednesday.
Atmosphere
Air Temp
70°F
Clear
Wind
10 mph
SW
Rain
2%
This Afternoon
UV Peak
11 Extreme
High 10 AM–03 PM · burn in ~18m
Burn-free before 08 AM & after 06 PM
Tomorrow
71°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Water
Water Temp
73°F
Swimming weather
Wave Height
2.6 ft
15s · WSW swell
Water Quality
Clean
22 cfu/100mL · Enterococcus
USGS · sampled 6mo ago
Rip Current Risk · Regional Reference
No zone-specific NWS forecast for this beach (PZZ655)
The LOX office's Surf Zone Forecast doesn't cover this beach's forecast zone directly. Nearby coastal zones it does cover are listed below — regional reference only, not a substitute for the conditions at this specific beach.
- CAZ362 Malibu Coast — Los Angeles County Beaches n/a
- CAZ354 Ventura County Beaches n/a
- CAZ349 Santa Barbara County Southwestern Coast — Santa Barbara County Southeastern Coast n/a
- CAZ340 San Luis Obispo County Beaches — Santa Barbara Central Coast Beaches n/a
Sun & Moon
Sunrise
8:54 AM
Sunset
11:01 PM
Moon · 18%
Waxing Crescent
Neap tides — smaller range
Tides
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:10 AM | High | 5.5 ft |
| 6:58 AM | Low | -0.2 ft |
| 1:37 PM | High | 4.8 ft |
| 7:20 PM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:02 AM | High | 4.7 ft |
| 7:35 AM | Low | 0.6 ft |
| 2:21 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 8:36 PM | Low | 1.8 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 2:06 AM | High | 3.8 ft |
| 8:11 AM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| 3:09 PM | High | 4.9 ft |
| 10:08 PM | Low | 1.7 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 3:38 AM | High | 3.1 ft |
| 8:49 AM | Low | 1.9 ft |
| 4:02 PM | High | 5.0 ft |
| 11:41 PM | Low | 1.3 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 5:54 AM | High | 2.8 ft |
| 9:37 AM | Low | 2.5 ft |
| 4:57 PM | High | 5.1 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 12:53 AM | Low | 0.8 ft |
| 7:54 AM | High | 3.0 ft |
| 10:49 AM | Low | 2.9 ft |
| 5:52 PM | High | 5.2 ft |
| Time | Type | Height |
|---|---|---|
| 1:45 AM | Low | 0.4 ft |
| 8:52 AM | High | 3.3 ft |
| 12:06 PM | Low | 3.0 ft |
| 6:41 PM | High | 5.4 ft |
High/low predictions from NOAA station 9410660, refreshed on every build. Times shown local.
7-Day Beach Day Forecast
71°
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
2%
79
71°
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
1%
79
73°
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
3%
78
75°
Mostly Sunny
0%
80
75°
Mostly Sunny
2%
83
73°
Mostly Sunny
4%
81
What to Bring Today
- critical SPF 50 sunscreen UV index 11 — very high
- optional Swimsuit - water is swimmable Water is 73°F
Always remember water bottle, trash bag (leave no trace).
Best Fishing Times Today
Solunar theory: fish activity peaks at moon transits (major) and moonrise/moonset (minor). All times local.
Minor
1:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Major
6:30 AM - 8:30 AM
Minor
1:10 PM - 2:10 PM
Beach Info
Parking
Metered street parking and paid municipal lots. Crowded summer weekends — arrive early.
Dogs
Dogs prohibited on the beach 10 AM – 4:30 PM year-round (not just summer). Leashed access at other hours, max 6-ft leash.
Entry Fee
Free
Address
21st St & W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Amenities
Frequently Asked
Is it safe to swim at Newport Beach today?
Newport Beach shows a live water-quality reading (bacteria levels) and today's swim-safety score at the top of this page, refreshed on every update. Seasonal lifeguards patrol the swim area in summer — follow their flags. Always review the current advisories, surf, and rip-current notes before getting in the water.
Is Newport Beach dog-friendly?
Dogs prohibited on the beach 10 AM – 4:30 PM year-round (not just summer). Leashed access at other hours, max 6-ft leash.
Is there an entry fee at Newport Beach?
Entry to Newport Beach is free.
Are there lifeguards at Newport Beach?
Yes. Seasonal lifeguards patrol Newport Beach during the summer swim season (typically Memorial Day through Labor Day). Outside that window, swim at your own risk.
What amenities are at Newport Beach?
Amenities at Newport Beach include lifeguards, piers (2), restrooms, showers, restaurants, shops, amusements (Fun Zone).
When is the water warmest at Newport Beach?
The Pacific is cold. Southern California (San Diego to Santa Barbara) peaks in August at 65-72°F. Central and Northern California stay in the upper 50s to low 60s year-round. Oregon and Washington rarely exceed 60°F. Wetsuits are common.
Where is Newport Beach located?
Newport Beach is in Orange County, CA, at 21st St & W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663.
Nearby Beaches
Updated · Data from NOAA, NWS