Northern California
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong S wind at 15mph.
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with strong S wind at 15mph.
Best window·Monday 8AM–11AM·2-3+ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 8s with 15mph out of the S. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and gentle NNW breeze. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and light winds out of the NW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on SSW swell at 15s with light NNW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very poor by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and 7mph NW winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and very poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Dunes Beach turns Good.
Check Dunes Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 1-2ft with a 8.2s swell period. Wind is S at 15mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Dunes Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 3.2ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 11s, a 1.3ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Monday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 13.6s swell period, and conditions rated 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
