Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Point Cabrillo for the cleanest windows.
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 9s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 21mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with strong N wind at 14mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor conditions with 8mph from the NNW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with light NNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 7s and 8mph NNW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor by then.
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 2-3ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 12mph 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 2-3ft, produced by a 7.9ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Tuesday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 4ft waves, a 9.3s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
