Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 6AM–9AM·5ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Moonstone beach, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on NW swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 5-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light winds out of the NNE. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.
Thu, Jul 2: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Expect 4-5ft all day on NW swell at 8s with glassy conditions — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 11mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Moonstone Beach is one of the few genuinely beginner-friendly surf spots in Humboldt County, with a wide flat beach and sandy bottom producing mellow waves. Despite the name — moonstones and agates are found on the beach itself, not in the surf zone. A local surf camp operates here, making it one of the few places in far NorCal where newcomers can safely learn. Even here, cold water requires a thick wetsuit, and shark awareness is essential in the Red Triangle.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Moonstone beach is 4-6ft with a 8.85s swell period. Wind is N at 12mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Moonstone beach is 4-6ft, produced by a 7.3ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.6ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.4ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Moonstone beach is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.9s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Moonstone 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 Moonstone 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.
Moonstone beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Moonstone Beach is one of the few genuinely beginner-friendly surf spots in Humboldt County, with a wide flat beach and sandy bottom producing mellow waves. Despite the name — moonstones and agates are found on the beach itself, not in the surf zone. A local surf camp operates here, making it one of the few places in far NorCal where newcomers can safely learn. Even here, cold water requires a thick wetsuit, and shark awareness is essential in the Red Triangle.
The prime season at Moonstone 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 Moonstone beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, urchins. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Moonstone 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
