Washington
Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on W swell at 11s and strong SSE wind at 13mph.
Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on W swell at 11s and strong SSE wind at 13mph.
Best window·Thursday 2PM–5PM·4-5ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 4–6ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-6ft waves on W swell at 11s with strong SSE wind at 13mph. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and gentle E breeze. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and very poor by then.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with light winds out of the ENE.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on WNW swell at 8s with moderate NE wind around 8mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 11s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 8mph by PM.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Rialto Beach turns Good.
Check Rialto Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 4-6ft with a 10.4s swell period. Wind is SSE at 13mph. 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 Rialto Beach is 4-6ft, produced by a 8.5ft W primary swell at 10s, a 5.6ft S secondary swell at 8s, a 1.4ft SSW tertiary swell at 13s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Thursday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 5ft waves, a 10.2s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
