Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 7s with 9mph N winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 8-9ft waves on WNW swell at 12s with 13mph out of the N. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 20mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on NW swell at 8s with light ENE winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 15mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on NW swell at 8s with light ENE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
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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 3-4ft with a 13.6s swell period. Wind is N at 7mph 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 3-4ft, produced by a 4.3ft NW primary swell at 7s, a 3.1ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 15s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 8.5s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
