Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 9–10ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 10-11ft and poor with strong NNW wind at 27mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 37mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 11–12ft, 10s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 12-13ft and mostly poor with strong NNW wind at 25mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 33mph.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on WNW swell at 10s with light N winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 22mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
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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 10-11ft with a 8.85s swell period. Wind is NNW at 28mph and 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 10-11ft, produced by a 1.3ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 9.8ft WNW wind swell swell at 9s. 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 Tuesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 7ft waves, a 9.25s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
