Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Glass 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: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 14s with strong N wind at 22mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 33mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 10–11ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 10-11ft and poor with 26mph out of the N. Afternoon breeze fills in to 33mph.
Mon, May 18: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 8-9ft on NW swell at 9s with light N winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 23mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on NW swell at 9s and light NNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and gentle NNW breeze. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and fair by then.
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Glass Beach is primarily a tourist attraction in Fort Bragg famous for its colorful sea glass, not a conventional surf spot. The rocky coastline and rough terrain make water entry and exit dangerous, with waves breaking over rock and debris from the former dump site. While theoretically surfable on bigger NW swells, this is not a recognized or regularly-surfed break and should only be considered by experienced surfers familiar with rocky NorCal conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Glass Beach is 6-7ft with a 13.85s swell period. Wind is N at 22mph 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 Glass Beach is 6-7ft, produced by a 3ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 6.6ft NW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Glass Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 9.25s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Glass 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 Glass 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.
Glass Beach is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Glass Beach is primarily a tourist attraction in Fort Bragg famous for its colorful sea glass, not a conventional surf spot. The rocky coastline and rough terrain make water entry and exit dangerous, with waves breaking over rock and debris from the former dump site. While theoretically surfable on bigger NW swells, this is not a recognized or regularly-surfed break and should only be considered by experienced surfers familiar with rocky NorCal conditions.
The prime season at Glass 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 Glass Beach include rocks, cobblestone bottom, cold water, strong currents, dangerous entry/exit, not a real surf break. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Glass 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.
