Swell Intel

Dillon Beach Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Doran Beach1-2+ftSalmon Creek2-3ftBolinas Jetty1-2ft
Dillon Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2+ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
9.75s
Wind
9mph
WSW / Gusts 15mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.7ft @ 10sNW
Secondary
0.8ft @ 12sSSW
Tertiary
0.8ft @ 15sWNW
Wind Swell
0.9ft @ 4sS

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with light SSW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|5mph SSW
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light WSW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 13mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s NW|7-13mph SSW
Thu, Apr 24-5ft
Poor

Midday is the call — 4-5ft waves with light NW winds and fair - good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s WNW|5-17mph NW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Dillon Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

Dillon Beach is a remote and scenic Northern California surf spot tucked near the mouth of Tomales Bay, where the beach faces nearly due west and picks up consistent northwest and west swells rolling in off the Pacific. The waves here are typically punchy and fast-breaking beach break, with conditions varying from mellow rollers ideal for intermediate surfers to powerful, hollow sections during larger northwest swells in fall and winter. Its relative isolation along the Northern California coast keeps crowds minimal, rewarding those willing to make the drive with uncrowded lineups and a raw, rugged coastal atmosphere.

Strong currentsCold waterRip currentsSharksShore breakFog

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Dillon Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Dillon Beach?
The current wave height at Dillon Beach is 1-2+ft with a 9.75s swell period. Wind is WSW at 9mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Dillon Beach surf forecast?
Our Dillon 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Dillon Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Dillon Beach is 1-2+ft, produced by a 1.7ft NW primary swell at 10s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 0.8ft WNW tertiary swell at 15s, a 0.9ft S wind swell swell at 4s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Dillon Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Dillon Beach is Friday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 6ft waves, a 11.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.