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: 8–9ft, 13s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on WNW swell at 13s with strong N wind at 14mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 21mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 8-9ft and poor conditions with 17mph N winds.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on NW swell at 8s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on NW swell at 8s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on NW swell at 8s with calm winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and 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 6-7ft with a 13.35s swell period. Wind is N at 12mph 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 6-7ft, produced by a 5.5ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 0.8ft SW secondary 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 Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 9.2s swell period, and conditions rated 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.
