The Wedge Surf Season
California, USA · part of the The Wedge spot guide
The Wedge is fundamentally a summer south-swell wave, prime June to September and peaking July to August. Both engines fire in the boreal summer: long-period south-to-south-southwest groundswell from South Pacific storms arriving April to October, and East Pacific tropical cyclones off mainland Mexico that send direct south-to-south-southwest swell and produce the biggest, most consistent Wedge days. Winter northwest swells hit the wrong angle and are largely blocked, so it goes quiet November to March.
Where the swell comes from
Southern Hemisphere groundswell from South Pacific storms and East Pacific tropical cyclones off Mexico, both delivering the south-to-south-southwest angle the jetty reflection needs.
Historic swells at The Wedge
Hurricane Marie
The largest, most consistent southerly swell to hit Southern California in over 20 years, with unusually long 13-to-15-second periods; Wedge faces reportedly maxed at 25-to-30 feet — a defining modern event.
Linda / Nora tropical swells
The prior generation of all-time tropical south swells, with Hurricane Linda delivering some of the biggest documented Wedge faces of the era.