Oregon
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cannon Beach, Oregon. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 6–7ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Morning kicks off with 6-7ft on WSW swell at 12s.
Sun, May 17: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 12s with light E winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 10s with 7mph from the N. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 14s and light winds out of the NW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with 7mph N winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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Cannon Beach is a classic Pacific Northwest beach break offering consistent, mellow waves that peel across a wide sandy bottom, making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. The iconic Haystack Rock formations provide a scenic backdrop and create interesting wave dynamics near the headland. The exposed eastward-facing beach picks up solid autumn and winter swells while maintaining accessibility and forgiving conditions most of the year.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cannon Beach is 5-7ft with a 8.8s swell period. Wind is NW at 17mph 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 Cannon Beach is 5-7ft, produced by a 0.7ft SW primary swell at 15s, a 8.5ft W 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 Cannon Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 11.6s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cannon Beach works best with a W 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 Cannon 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.
Cannon Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Cannon Beach is a classic Pacific Northwest beach break offering consistent, mellow waves that peel across a wide sandy bottom, making it an ideal spot for beginners and intermediate surfers. The iconic Haystack Rock formations provide a scenic backdrop and create interesting wave dynamics near the headland. The exposed eastward-facing beach picks up solid autumn and winter swells while maintaining accessibility and forgiving conditions most of the year.
The prime season at Cannon 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 Cannon Beach include rocks, strong currents near haystack rock, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cannon 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.
