Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 9–10ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 9-10ft waves and poor conditions with 20mph out of the NW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 25mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 9–10ft, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 9-10ft on WNW swell at 11s with 13mph from the NW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 21mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 5-6ft waves, 15mph N winds, poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Very Good. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the ESE. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light SSW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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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 8-10ft with a 9.15s swell period. Wind is NW at 19mph 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 Pacifica Pier is 8-10ft, produced by a 1.5ft W primary swell at 14s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 13s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 9.4ft 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 Pacifica Pier is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 15.3s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
