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: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Poor. The sweet spot is around midday — 7-8ft waves, 13mph WNW winds, poor - fair conditions. 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. First light looks cleanest — 8-9ft on W swell at 12s with moderate WNW wind around 8mph. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 5-6ft and poor - fair early on. Afternoon shapes up better with 8-9ft and poor - fair conditions.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Very Good. Aim for the middle of the day — 5-6ft on W swell at 10s with gentle ENE breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 13s with light S winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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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 WNW at 9mph 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 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 7.5ft 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 7 AM to 10 AM with 6ft waves, a 15.25s 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.
