Northern California
Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor - fair at 3-4ft.
Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor - fair at 3-4ft.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·4-5ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 3-4ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at fair.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 11s with light S winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the E. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on NW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 5s with light ESE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check MacKerricher Main Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 3-4ft with a 9.3s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph. Conditions are rated 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 3-4ft, produced by a 5.9ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.5s swell period, and conditions rated 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
