Northern California
Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with moderate SSW wind around 8mph.
Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with moderate SSW wind around 8mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Patricks Point for the cleanest windows.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 8mph from the SSW.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3+ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 10mph S winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with light ENE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 9s and light SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the E. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and very poor by then.
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 Patricks Point turns Good.
Check Patricks Point from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 2-3ft with a 9.3s swell period. Wind is SSW at 11mph. 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 2-3ft, 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 Patricks Point is Thursday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. 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).
