Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with 14mph out of the NNE. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 23mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 8-9ft and poor conditions with strong NNE wind at 21mph.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on NW swell at 8s and light NE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 27mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on NW swell at 8s and light NE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 26mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on NW swell at 8s with 10mph from the N. Onshore flow builds through the day to 27mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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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 3-4ft with a 13.55s swell period. Wind is NNE at 11mph 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 Palmers Point is 3-4ft, produced by a 4.1ft WNW primary swell at 7s, a 3.1ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.8ft 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 Palmers Point is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 8.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
