Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Bolinas Jetty for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bolinas Jetty, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with glassy conditions. Expect the wind to bump up to around 6mph by PM.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with 7mph from the SSE.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 7mph S winds.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 2ft on W swell at 7s with light winds out of the SSW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on W swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Bolinas Jetty is where the Bolinas Lagoon meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and channelized waves along the jetty structure. The break offers fun, manageable waves that peel along the jetty, with the sand bottom providing forgiving conditions for intermediate surfers. SW swells wrap into the lagoon entrance and NE winds blow offshore, making it a solid option when the exposed coast is too powerful. The infamous Bolinas localism (torn-down road signs) is more town-level than in-water.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bolinas Jetty is 1ft with a 10.75s swell period. Wind is SSE at 7mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas Jetty is 1ft, produced by a 3ft W primary swell at 11s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Bolinas Jetty is Friday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 2ft waves, a 16.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bolinas Jetty works best with a SW swell and NE 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 Bolinas Jetty. 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.
Bolinas Jetty is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bolinas Jetty is where the Bolinas Lagoon meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and channelized waves along the jetty structure. The break offers fun, manageable waves that peel along the jetty, with the sand bottom providing forgiving conditions for intermediate surfers. SW swells wrap into the lagoon entrance and NE winds blow offshore, making it a solid option when the exposed coast is too powerful. The infamous Bolinas localism (torn-down road signs) is more town-level than in-water.
The prime season at Bolinas Jetty is winter, 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 Bolinas Jetty include strong currents near jetty, shifting sandbars, rocks near jetty structure, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bolinas Jetty 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
