Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 7-8ft on SW swell at 15s with moderate WNW wind around 13mph. 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.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 8-9ft waves on WSW swell at 13s and 8mph from the WNW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on W swell at 11s with 14mph out of the N. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 6-7ft on W swell at 10s with light ENE winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down. Afternoon wind picks back up so try to get wet before 2pm.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Midday is the call — 4-5ft waves with light winds out of the S and fair - good conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
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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 6-8ft with a 8.95s swell period. Wind is W at 10mph 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 Marin County is 6-8ft, produced by a 1ft SW primary swell at 14s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 7.7ft WNW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 6ft waves, a 15.4s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
