Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dillon Beach, 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: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 10s with calm winds. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and gentle ENE breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on WNW swell at 8s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on WNW swell at 7s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dillon Beach is 2-3ft with a 9.65s swell period. Wind is WSW at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Dillon Beach is 2-3ft, produced by a 5.9ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Dillon Beach is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 9.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dillon 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 Dillon 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.
Dillon Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Dillon 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 Dillon Beach include strong currents, cold water, rip currents, sharks, shore break, fog. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
