Washington
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ruby 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: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WSW swell at 14s with light winds out of the E. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with light winds out of the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 10s with gentle N breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 4–5ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 14s and light NNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 7s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Ruby Beach is a scenic, sandy beach break on Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula coast that offers mellow, rolling waves perfect for learning and progression. The eastward-facing beach receives consistent autumn and winter swell from Pacific storms, with the sand bottom providing soft, forgiving conditions ideal for beginners. This remote, undercrowded gem delivers reliable waist-to-shoulder-high waves in a stunning natural setting dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ruby Beach is 4-5ft with a 13.35s swell period. Wind is E at 5mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ruby Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 0.9ft SW primary swell at 16s, a 0.5ft SW secondary swell at 13s, a 6.7ft W wind swell 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 Ruby Beach is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 13.35s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ruby 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 Ruby 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.
Ruby Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ruby Beach is a scenic, sandy beach break on Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula coast that offers mellow, rolling waves perfect for learning and progression. The eastward-facing beach receives consistent autumn and winter swell from Pacific storms, with the sand bottom providing soft, forgiving conditions ideal for beginners. This remote, undercrowded gem delivers reliable waist-to-shoulder-high waves in a stunning natural setting dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
The prime season at Ruby 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 Ruby Beach include strong currents, cold water temperatures, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ruby 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.
