Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Dunes Beach for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 10s with moderate SSW wind around 8mph. The SW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light SSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with gentle S breeze.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on WNW swell at 7s with light winds out of the SSW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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 2ft with a 9.8s swell period. Wind is SW at 9mph 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 2ft, produced by a 4.9ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft 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 Dunes Beach is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
