Swell Intel

Salmon Creek Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Doran Beach2-3ftDillon Beach1-2+ftSecrets1-2ft
Salmon Creek surf spot

Current Conditions

Fair
Wave Height
2-3ft
knee to waist high
Swell Period
14.4s
Wind
3mph
SSW / Gusts 8mph
Conditions
Fair
Active Swells
Primary
1.7ft @ 9sNW
Secondary
1.0ft @ 14sWNW
Tertiary
0.9ft @ 12sSSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 312-3ft
Poor - Fair
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
Poor

Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 13mph by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|3-13mph SSW
Thu, Apr 27-8ft
Poor

Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor with 4-5ft waves. Size picks up through the day, hitting 7-8ft with fair - good conditions by late afternoon.

6am9am12pm3pm
10s WNW|7-19mph NNW
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Sat

Forecast Charts

Salmon Creek Surf Spot Guide

Break
Rivermouth
Bottom
Sand
Level
Advanced
Crowd
Moderate
Best Swell
WSW
Best Wind
E
Season
Winter

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.

Strong currentsRip currents near rivermouthCold waterSharksShifting sandbarsShore break

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

Salmon Creek Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for Salmon Creek?
The current wave height at Salmon Creek is 2-3ft with a 14.4s swell period. Wind is SSW at 3mph. Conditions are rated Fair.
How accurate is the Salmon Creek surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Salmon Creek?
The current breaking wave height at Salmon Creek is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Salmon Creek?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Salmon Creek is Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 7ft waves, a 11.25s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.