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: 10–11ft, 9s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 9-10ft on SSW swell at 13s with strong NNW wind at 14mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 36mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, May 17: 11–12ft, 10s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 11-12ft waves and poor conditions with 25mph out of the NNW. Expect the wind to bump up to around 33mph by PM.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 22mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
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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 9-10+ft with a 8.5s swell period. Wind is NNW at 27mph 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 9-10+ft, produced by a 1ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 0.8ft SSW secondary swell at 16s, a 9.3ft 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 Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 9.05s 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.
