Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Very Good. Should be a good one — 7-8ft on SW swell at 15s with 13mph NNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Sun, May 17: 7–8ft, 12s period, rated Very Good. Solid day on tap with 7-8ft waves on WSW swell at 13s and moderate NNW wind around 9mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Very Good. Solid day on tap with 6-7ft waves on W swell at 11s and 14mph out of the N.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on W swell at 10s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 13s with light winds out of the S. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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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 6-8ft with a 8.95s swell period. Wind is NNW at 12mph and conditions are rated Very Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Bolinas Jetty is 6-8ft, produced by a 1ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 7.7ft WNW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Sunday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 8ft waves, a 11.75s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
