Northern California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·4ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 6–7ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 6-7ft and poor - fair conditions with 12mph from the N.
Thu, Jul 2: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on NW swell at 9s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on NW swell at 7s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor - fair at 3-4ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 3-4ft and fair conditions.
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 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. 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 8.2ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft 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 MacKerricher Main Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 8.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
