Swell Intel

Pacifica Pier Surf Forecast, Northern California

Live

Northern California

Linda Mar / Pacifica0-1ftOcean Beach1-2ftDunes Beach1-2ft
Pacifica Pier surf spot

Current Conditions

Very Poor
Wave Height
0-1ft
flat to ankle high
Swell Period
14.45s
Wind
13mph
WSW / Gusts 20mph
Conditions
Very Poor
Active Swells
Primary
1.2ft @ 10sWNW
Secondary
1.0ft @ 12sSSW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 14sW
Wind Swell
1.9ft @ 4sSSW

Nearby Webcams

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 31Flat
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 10-1ft
Very Poor

A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with moderate SW wind around 9mph.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s SSW|9-13mph SW
Thu, Apr 21-2ft
Poor

Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and poor with 16mph NW winds.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s WNW|10-16mph NNW
Sign up to unlockFree — no credit card
Sat
3ft
Swell building Fri, Apr 3Fair

12s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast

Sign up free to track it

Forecast Charts

Pacifica Pier Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Beginner
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall

Pacifica Pier is a mellow beach break located just south of San Francisco, offering consistent, peeling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and those looking for an easy session. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface, and the pier itself creates some interesting channeling effects that can help organize swell during smaller days. The spot works best during fall and winter when larger Pacific swells arrive, though it's accessible year-round due to its protected position on the northern California coast.

Pier pilingsOccasional rip currentsFogCold water

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Pacifica Pier Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Pacifica Pier?
The current wave height at Pacifica Pier is 0-1ft with a 14.45s swell period. Wind is WSW at 13mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor.
How accurate is the Pacifica Pier surf forecast?
Our Pacifica Pier 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Pacifica Pier?
The current breaking wave height at Pacifica Pier is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.2ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 1ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft W tertiary swell at 14s, a 1.9ft SSW wind swell swell at 4s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Pacifica Pier?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Pacifica Pier is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 11.7s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.