Swell Intel

MacKerricher Main Beach Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

MacKerricher Laguna Point1-2ftWard Ave. Beach1-2ftVirgin Creek1-2ft
MacKerricher Main Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
6mph
SW / Gusts 7mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.4ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
1.3ft @ 14sWNW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 12sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Poor

A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|3-8mph WSW
Thu, Apr 26-7ft
Poor - Fair

Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 5-6ft with 16mph out of the NNW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s W|6-16mph NNW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

MacKerricher Main Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

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.

Cold waterSharksRip currentsShorebreakStrong currents

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

MacKerricher Main Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for MacKerricher Main Beach?
The current wave height at MacKerricher Main Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the MacKerricher Main Beach surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at MacKerricher Main Beach?
The current breaking wave height at MacKerricher Main Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.4ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 1.3ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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.
When is the best time to surf MacKerricher Main Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf MacKerricher Main Beach is Thursday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 7ft waves, a 10.95s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.