Swell Intel

Point Arena Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Black Point Beach1-2ftMendocino Headlands1-2ftSecrets1-2ft
Point Arena surf spot

Current Conditions

Fair
Wave Height
2-3ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
14.4s
Wind
5mph
S / Gusts 5mph
Conditions
Fair
Active Swells
Primary
1.9ft @ 9sNW
Secondary
1.2ft @ 12sSSW
Tertiary
1.1ft @ 14sWNW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 313-4ft
Poor - Fair
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
Fair

Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|4-10mph SSW
Thu, Apr 27-8ft
Poor - Fair

Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 5-6ft. Size picks up through the day, hitting 7-8ft with fair conditions by late afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s W|9-18mph NNW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Point Arena Surf Spot Guide

Break
Reef
Bottom
Reef
Level
Expert
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
NW
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter

Point Arena is one of the premier waves in Northern California — a ledgy slab reef producing both lefts and rights, with the left considered one of the best waves in NorCal. The wave works from chest-high to 20-foot-plus faces, breaking over a sharp rock shelf with a rusty ship boiler to avoid at low tide. A fiercely localized spot with a dedicated crew who protect their wave, this is a serious, heavy break that demands expert-level ability and local respect.

Sharp reefShallow rock shelfSubmerged ship wreckSharksLocalismCold waterStrong currentsHeavy surf

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Point Arena Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Point Arena?
The current wave height at Point Arena is 2-3ft with a 14.4s swell period. Wind is S at 5mph. Conditions are rated Fair.
How accurate is the Point Arena surf forecast?
Our Point Arena 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.
What is the breaking wave height at Point Arena?
The current breaking wave height at Point Arena is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.9ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft WNW tertiary swell at 14s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Point Arena?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Point Arena is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 9.65s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.