Northern California
Midday is the call — 2-3+ft waves with gentle WSW breeze and poor - fair conditions.
Midday is the call — 2-3+ft waves with gentle WSW breeze and poor - fair conditions.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·3-4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salmon Creek, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 2–3+ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 2-3+ft with light winds out of the WSW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Fri, Sep 4: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with 7mph NW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3+ft, 10s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3+ft on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the ENE. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on SSW swell at 15s with light NNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 19mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on S swell at 14s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor today — get one free email when Salmon Creek turns Good.
Check Salmon Creek from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Salmon Creek is the most popular surf spot in Sonoma County and a powerful, exposed beach break often compared to a smaller version of Ocean Beach. The wide beach stretch offers multiple peaks, with the main break in front of the parking lot drawing the biggest crowd, while walking south along the dunes reliably produces empty peaks. Winter surf is fierce with punishing paddle-outs and strong currents — summer is gentler and more accessible to intermediates. One of the most consistent spots in NorCal due to its open exposure.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salmon Creek is 2-3+ft with a 8.1s swell period. Wind is WSW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Salmon Creek is 2-3+ft, produced by a 4.4ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 1.8ft S secondary swell at 12s, a 1.3ft SW tertiary swell at 16s. 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 Salmon Creek is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.4s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salmon Creek works best with a WSW 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 Salmon Creek. 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.
Salmon Creek is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Salmon Creek is the most popular surf spot in Sonoma County and a powerful, exposed beach break often compared to a smaller version of Ocean Beach. The wide beach stretch offers multiple peaks, with the main break in front of the parking lot drawing the biggest crowd, while walking south along the dunes reliably produces empty peaks. Winter surf is fierce with punishing paddle-outs and strong currents — summer is gentler and more accessible to intermediates. One of the most consistent spots in NorCal due to its open exposure.
The prime season at Salmon Creek is winter, 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 Salmon Creek include strong currents, rip currents near rivermouth, cold water, sharks, shifting sandbars, shore break. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salmon Creek 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).
