Northern California
Best window·Tuesday 10AM–1PM·4ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Jones 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: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Fair - Good. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on NW swell at 9s and glassy conditions. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and fair by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Expect 3-4ft all day on NW swell at 10s with 11mph NE winds — nothing amazing but surfable.
Thu, Jul 2: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on WNW swell at 9s — calm winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 9mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with calm winds.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with barely a breath of wind.
Jones Beach is a rugged and relatively remote surf spot tucked along the wild Mendocino Coast of Northern California, where the Pacific delivers consistent northwest and west swells to a sandy beach break. Facing ENE, this spot benefits from the natural protection of the surrounding headlands, which can help groom conditions when offshore winds cooperate. The combination of powerful open-ocean swells and a sparse crowd makes it a rewarding destination for surfers willing to seek out Northern California's less-traveled stretches of coastline.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Jones Beach is 3-4ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is NNE at 8mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Jones Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 6.6ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft 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 Jones Beach is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 4ft waves, a 9.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Jones Beach works best with a W 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 Jones 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.
Jones Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Jones Beach is a rugged and relatively remote surf spot tucked along the wild Mendocino Coast of Northern California, where the Pacific delivers consistent northwest and west swells to a sandy beach break. Facing ENE, this spot benefits from the natural protection of the surrounding headlands, which can help groom conditions when offshore winds cooperate. The combination of powerful open-ocean swells and a sparse crowd makes it a rewarding destination for surfers willing to seek out Northern California's less-traveled stretches of coastline.
The prime season at Jones 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 Jones Beach include strong currents, cold water, sharks, rocky shoreline, shore dump, isolated location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Jones 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.
