Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 2PM–5PM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Linda Mar / Pacifica, 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: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on WNW swell at 10s — 12mph from the SSW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 18mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with gentle SSW breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor - fair with light S winds.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light SSW winds.
Linda Mar is the Bay Area's premier learn-to-surf spot, a mile-long west-facing beach break with soft, rolling waves that rarely exceed overhead. The Pacifica valley uniquely funnels south and SE winds offshore, so Linda Mar stays clean when nearby Ocean Beach is blown out. Expect packed lineups on weekends with 50+ surfers and multiple surf schools, but the friendly, forgiving waves and sandy bottom make it ideal for beginners. Pedro Point at the south end offers a rocky left for advanced surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Linda Mar / Pacifica is 3-4ft with a 9.8s swell period. Wind is SSW at 16mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Linda Mar / Pacifica is 3-4ft, 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 Linda Mar / Pacifica is Wednesday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Linda Mar / Pacifica works best with a WNW swell and SE 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 Linda Mar / Pacifica. 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.
Linda Mar / Pacifica is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Linda Mar is the Bay Area's premier learn-to-surf spot, a mile-long west-facing beach break with soft, rolling waves that rarely exceed overhead. The Pacifica valley uniquely funnels south and SE winds offshore, so Linda Mar stays clean when nearby Ocean Beach is blown out. Expect packed lineups on weekends with 50+ surfers and multiple surf schools, but the friendly, forgiving waves and sandy bottom make it ideal for beginners. Pedro Point at the south end offers a rocky left for advanced surfers.
The prime season at Linda Mar / Pacifica 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 Linda Mar / Pacifica include crowds, surf schools, cold water, rocks at north and south ends, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Linda Mar / Pacifica 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.
