Northern California
Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 17mph out of the SSW.
Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 17mph out of the SSW.
Best window·Monday 8AM–11AM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Marin County, 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with strong SSW wind at 17mph.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, moderate W wind around 9mph, poor conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on SW swell at 16s and 8mph W winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 18mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 15s with moderate W wind around 12mph. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 3-4ft on SSW swell at 14s with light winds out of the SW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Marin County turns Good.
Check Marin County from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
This Marin County beach break sits along the rugged coast south of Stinson Beach, receiving powerful NW and W groundswells that produce punchy, hollow peaks. The remote setting keeps crowds minimal, but the cold water, strong currents, and Red Triangle shark activity demand experienced intermediates at minimum. A rewarding find for surfers comfortable in raw NorCal conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Marin County is 1-2ft with a 8s swell period. Wind is SSE at 12mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Marin County is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.4ft W primary swell at 8s, a 1.8ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.5ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 1ft SSW wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Marin County is Monday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 3ft waves, a 13.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Marin County 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 Marin County. 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.
Marin County is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. This Marin County beach break sits along the rugged coast south of Stinson Beach, receiving powerful NW and W groundswells that produce punchy, hollow peaks. The remote setting keeps crowds minimal, but the cold water, strong currents, and Red Triangle shark activity demand experienced intermediates at minimum. A rewarding find for surfers comfortable in raw NorCal conditions.
The prime season at Marin County is winter, 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 Marin County include cold water, sharks, strong currents, rocks, rip currents, fog, isolation. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Marin County 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).
