Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 9–10ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 10-11ft and poor with 19mph out of the NNW.
Sun, May 17: 10–11ft, 11s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 12-13ft waves on SSW swell at 14s and 13mph from the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 19mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 8-9ft on WNW swell at 10s with strong N wind at 16mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair - Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 10s with light NE winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and gentle SSW breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and fair by then.
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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 10-11ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is NNW at 18mph 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 Linda Mar / Pacifica is 10-11ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 15s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s, a 9.9ft WNW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Tuesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 6ft waves, a 9.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
