Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at MacKerricher Main 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: 8–9ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 13s with 20mph out of the NNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 30mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 11–12ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 10-11ft waves on NW swell at 9s with 23mph out of the N. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 30mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on NW swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on NW swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on NW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 6mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
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MacKerricher Main Beach is the most accessible surf spot near Fort Bragg, with a wide sandy beach and consistent W and NW swell exposure. The park's infrastructure makes it more approachable than truly remote NorCal spots, but cold water, currents, and shark presence still require intermediate-level experience. The wide beach spreads surfers out, keeping the lineup relatively uncrowded.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at MacKerricher Main Beach is 5-6ft with a 13.4s swell period. Wind is N at 20mph 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 MacKerricher Main Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 3.1ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 6.2ft 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 MacKerricher Main Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 9.95s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
MacKerricher Main 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 MacKerricher Main 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.
MacKerricher Main Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. MacKerricher Main Beach is the most accessible surf spot near Fort Bragg, with a wide sandy beach and consistent W and NW swell exposure. The park's infrastructure makes it more approachable than truly remote NorCal spots, but cold water, currents, and shark presence still require intermediate-level experience. The wide beach spreads surfers out, keeping the lineup relatively uncrowded.
The prime season at MacKerricher Main 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 MacKerricher Main Beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, shorebreak, strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our MacKerricher Main 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.
