Swell Intel

Dunes Beach Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Linda Mar / Pacifica0-1ftPacifica Pier0-1ftOcean Beach1-2ft
Dunes Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
14.45s
Wind
7mph
SW / Gusts 13mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.9ft @ 4sSSW
Secondary
1.2ft @ 10sWNW
Tertiary
1.1ft @ 12sSSW

Nearest Webcam

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with light SSW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 11mph by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
5s SW|5-11mph SW
Thu, Apr 22-3ft
Poor

Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with 9mph NNW winds and poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s WNW|9-14mph NNW
Fri, Apr 34-5ft
Fair - Good

Consistent 4-5ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 9s with light NNW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
12s WNW|5-7mph NNE
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Sun
3ft
Swell building Sat, Apr 4Fair

11s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

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Forecast Charts

Dunes Beach Surf Spot Guide

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

Dunes Beach is a sandy beach break near Half Moon Bay backed by expansive coastal dunes, offering a more sheltered alternative to the exposed breaks further north. The west-facing beach picks up NW groundswells that wrap into the area, producing mellow waves suitable for intermediate surfers and longboarders. Cold water, fog, and strong currents are standard NorCal conditions, but the relatively calmer surf and scenic dune backdrop make it a pleasant spot.

Strong currentsCold waterFogShore breakRip currents

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

Dunes Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Dunes Beach?
The current wave height at Dunes Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.45s swell period. Wind is SW at 7mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Dunes Beach surf forecast?
Our Dunes 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 Dunes Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Dunes Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.9ft SSW primary swell at 4s, a 1.2ft WNW secondary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Dunes Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Dunes Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 11.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.