Northern California
Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with moderate SSW wind around 8mph.
Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with moderate SSW wind around 8mph.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·7-8ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Palmers Point, 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: 7–8ft, 11s period, rated Fair - Good. Midday is the call — 4-6ft waves with moderate SSW wind around 9mph and fair - good conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Fri, Sep 4: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with 12mph from the SSE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Good. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on NW swell at 9s with moderate SSE wind around 8mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 8s and light winds out of the ENE. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Palmers Point from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Palmers Point is a rocky point break located on the rugged Humboldt County coastline where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the headland to create peeling, well-defined waves. The ESE-facing point produces quality shape across a variety of swell directions, with particularly strong performance during autumn when larger Pacific storms send organized groundswell toward the California coast. This relatively secluded spot offers a genuine local vibe with manageable crowds and rewards surfers with the skill to navigate the rocky bottom and changing conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Palmers Point is 4-6ft with a 9.3s swell period. Wind is SSW at 10mph. Conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Palmers Point is 4-6ft, produced by a 6.2ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 2.6ft SSW wind swell swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Palmers Point is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 10.4s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Palmers Point works best with a NW 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 Palmers Point. 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.
Palmers Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Palmers Point is a rocky point break located on the rugged Humboldt County coastline where consistent Pacific swells wrap around the headland to create peeling, well-defined waves. The ESE-facing point produces quality shape across a variety of swell directions, with particularly strong performance during autumn when larger Pacific storms send organized groundswell toward the California coast. This relatively secluded spot offers a genuine local vibe with manageable crowds and rewards surfers with the skill to navigate the rocky bottom and changing conditions.
The prime season at Palmers Point 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 Palmers Point include rocks, strong currents, cold water, remote location. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Palmers Point 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).
