Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Agate Beach, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and 12mph from the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 21mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 13s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on WSW swell at 12s with 17mph N winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 8s and light E winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on NW swell at 8s with light E winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on NW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor - fair by then.
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Agate Beach near Patrick's Point in Humboldt County is a powerful, exposed beach break described as "for experts" by local safety assessments, with huge waves, boiling surf, submerged rocks, and icy water. The NW swell exposure produces heavy, unpredictable conditions that demand experience and fitness. The dramatic coastal scenery is stunning but the surf is no joke — strong rip currents and sneaker waves are constant hazards.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Agate Beach is 2-3+ft with a 13.55s swell period. Wind is NNE at 9mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Agate Beach is 2-3+ft, produced by a 4.1ft WNW primary swell at 7s, a 3.1ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.8ft SW tertiary swell at 15s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Agate Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.35s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Agate Beach works best with a NW swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Agate Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Agate Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Agate Beach near Patrick's Point in Humboldt County is a powerful, exposed beach break described as "for experts" by local safety assessments, with huge waves, boiling surf, submerged rocks, and icy water. The NW swell exposure produces heavy, unpredictable conditions that demand experience and fitness. The dramatic coastal scenery is stunning but the surf is no joke — strong rip currents and sneaker waves are constant hazards.
The prime season at Agate Beach is fall, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Agate Beach include submerged rocks, strong rip currents, cold water, sharks, sneaker waves, heavy surf, steep drop-offs. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Agate Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
