Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Point Cabrillo, 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 13s with 23mph out of the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 34mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 11–12ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 11-12ft waves on SSW swell at 14s with 26mph out of the N. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 32mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on NW swell at 9s with moderate N wind around 7mph. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 24mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on NW swell at 9s with 9mph N winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 18mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on NW swell at 9s with 8mph NNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
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Point Cabrillo is a scenic rocky point break on the Mendocino County coast that wraps around a dramatic headland, offering multiple peaks and a long, peeling ride when conditions align. The break works best during large fall and winter swells when northwest swell wraps around the point, creating well-defined waves that peel along the rocky bottom. This is a quality spot for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves with stunning coastal views and good shape on the right swell direction.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Point Cabrillo is 5-6ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is N at 23mph 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 Point Cabrillo is 5-6ft, produced by a 3ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 1.2ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 6.4ft NW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Point Cabrillo is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 9.9s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Point Cabrillo works best with a WNW swell and SE 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 Point Cabrillo. 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.
Point Cabrillo is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Point Cabrillo is a scenic rocky point break on the Mendocino County coast that wraps around a dramatic headland, offering multiple peaks and a long, peeling ride when conditions align. The break works best during large fall and winter swells when northwest swell wraps around the point, creating well-defined waves that peel along the rocky bottom. This is a quality spot for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves with stunning coastal views and good shape on the right swell direction.
The prime season at Point Cabrillo 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 Point Cabrillo include rocks, strong currents, urchins, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Point Cabrillo 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.
