Washington
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Rialto Beach, Washington. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on W swell at 13s and glassy conditions. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on W swell at 11s with 7mph from the NW. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 6-7ft waves with 7mph WNW winds and fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Wed, May 20: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 7s with light SE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Rialto Beach in Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula offers consistent beach breaks along a dramatic rocky shoreline dotted with sea stacks and tide pools. The exposure to west-facing swells combined with the beach's natural geography creates fun, workable waves that work well at various tide levels. This scenic break rewards visitors with wild coastal beauty and solid autumn swells, though conditions can be unpredictable year-round due to the Pacific Northwest's weather patterns.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Rialto Beach is 5-7ft with a 13.3s swell period. Wind is SE at 4mph and conditions are rated Very Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Rialto Beach is 5-7ft, produced by a 7.1ft W primary swell at 13s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 13s. 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 Rialto Beach is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 13.3s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Rialto Beach works best with a W swell and E 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 Rialto Beach. 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.
Rialto Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Rialto Beach in Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula offers consistent beach breaks along a dramatic rocky shoreline dotted with sea stacks and tide pools. The exposure to west-facing swells combined with the beach's natural geography creates fun, workable waves that work well at various tide levels. This scenic break rewards visitors with wild coastal beauty and solid autumn swells, though conditions can be unpredictable year-round due to the Pacific Northwest's weather patterns.
The prime season at Rialto Beach 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 Rialto Beach include rocks, strong currents, cold water, changing tides. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Rialto Beach 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.
