Swell Intel

Point Cabrillo Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Caspar Beach1-2+ftCaspar Headlands1-2+ftRussian Gulch2-3ft
Point Cabrillo surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
8.85s
Wind
6mph
SW / Gusts 8mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.6ft @ 9sNW
Secondary
1.0ft @ 14sWNW
Tertiary
1.0ft @ 12sSSW
Wind Swell
0.9ft @ 3sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
Very Poor

Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and poor with gentle S breeze. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|4-10mph SSW
Thu, Apr 25-6ft
Poor

Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 3-4ft. Swell fills in and gets up to 4-5ft by PM — poor - fair conditions.

6am9am12pm3pm
9s WNW|15-16mph NW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Point Cabrillo Surf Spot Guide

Break
Point
Bottom
Rock
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
WNW
Best Wind
SE
Season
Fall

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.

RocksStrong currentsUrchinsCold water

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

Point Cabrillo Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Point Cabrillo?
The current wave height at Point Cabrillo is 1-2ft with a 8.85s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Point Cabrillo surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Point Cabrillo?
The current breaking wave height at Point Cabrillo is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.6ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft SSW wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Cabrillo?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Point Cabrillo is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 11.6s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.