Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dunes Beach, 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: 9–10ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 10-11ft waves and poor conditions with strong NNW wind at 20mph. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 26mph.
Sun, May 17: 10–11ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 12-13ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with 8mph from the NNW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 22mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 8-9ft on WNW swell at 10s with strong N wind at 16mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair - Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 10s with light NE winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 4-5ft waves, gentle SSW breeze, fair - good conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dunes Beach is 10-11ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is NNW at 18mph 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 Dunes Beach is 10-11ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 15s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s, a 9.9ft 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 Dunes Beach is Tuesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 6ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dunes Beach works best with a NW 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 Dunes 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.
Dunes Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at Dunes 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 Dunes Beach include strong currents, cold water, fog, shore break, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
