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. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on W swell at 13s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on W swell at 11s and 7mph NW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Consistent 5-6ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 10s with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 6-7ft waves with 7mph from the WNW and fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Wed, May 20: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 8s and gentle SE breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and fair by then.
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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 12.85s swell period. Wind is ENE at 1mph 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 7.7ft W primary swell at 13s, a 1.1ft SW secondary swell at 15s. 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 7 AM to 10 AM with 7ft waves, a 12.65s 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.
