Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Patricks 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: 8–9ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 13s and 14mph out of the N. Onshore flow builds through the day to 21mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 9-10ft and poor with strong N wind at 17mph.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the E. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 8s and light E winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and fair by then.
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Patricks Point is a raw and rugged surf spot on the Northern California coast near Trinidad, where powerful Pacific swells wrap around a rocky headland to produce heavy, unpredictable waves. The break faces ESE, meaning northwest groundswells wrap into the point with serious force, delivering punchy and often hollow rides over a rocky bottom in a strikingly wild setting surrounded by old-growth coastal forest. This spot rewards experienced surfers willing to make the trek to one of Northern California's most remote and scenic stretches of coastline.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Patricks Point is 6-7ft with a 13.35s swell period. Wind is N at 12mph 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 Patricks Point is 6-7ft, produced by a 5.5ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 0.8ft SW secondary 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 Patricks Point is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 9.2s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Patricks 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 Patricks 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.
Patricks Point is a point with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Patricks Point is a raw and rugged surf spot on the Northern California coast near Trinidad, where powerful Pacific swells wrap around a rocky headland to produce heavy, unpredictable waves. The break faces ESE, meaning northwest groundswells wrap into the point with serious force, delivering punchy and often hollow rides over a rocky bottom in a strikingly wild setting surrounded by old-growth coastal forest. This spot rewards experienced surfers willing to make the trek to one of Northern California's most remote and scenic stretches of coastline.
The prime season at Patricks 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 Patricks Point include rocks, strong currents, cold water, sharks, remote location, large surf. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Patricks 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.
