Northern California
Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 3-4+ft waves.
Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 3-4+ft waves.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·6-7ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4+ft, 10s period, rated Fair - Good. Patience pays off today — morning is fair with 3-4+ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 3-4+ft and fair - good.
Fri, Sep 4: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Fair - Good. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 11s with gentle S breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on NW swell at 9s with gentle ENE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on NW swell at 5s and gentle ENE breeze. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor by then.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 5s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 5s with light winds out of the NE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Point Cabrillo from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 3-4+ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is SSW at 3mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Point Cabrillo is 3-4+ft, produced by a 4.6ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.4ft S secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft SSW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 10.7s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
