Northern California
Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 8s with 14mph S winds.
Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 8s with 14mph S winds.
Best window·Friday 7AM–10AM·4-5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pacifica Pier, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with 14mph out of the S. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 4-5ft with light winds out of the WNW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4+ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 3-4ft with moderate WNW wind around 8mph. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SSW swell at 15s with 11mph WNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 2-3+ft waves. Things come together by the afternoon with 2-3+ft at very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Pacifica Pier turns Good.
Check Pacifica Pier from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pacifica Pier is 3-4ft with a 8.2s swell period. Wind is SSW at 14mph. 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 Pacifica Pier is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.6ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 2ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.5ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 1.2ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Pacifica Pier is Friday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.4s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pacifica Pier 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 Pacifica Pier. 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.
Pacifica Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. 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.
The prime season at Pacifica Pier 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 Pacifica Pier include pier pilings, occasional rip currents, fog, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
