Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 6AM–9AM·7ft·Good
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 6mph from the SW and dropping conditions to fair.
Wed, Jul 1: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on WNW swell at 10s with light winds out of the NNE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, Jul 2: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 8s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft all day on WNW swell at 7s with glassy conditions — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
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 6-8ft with a 9.65s swell period. Wind is S at 7mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Salmon Creek is 6-8ft, produced by a 6.1ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 1.1ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 7ft waves, a 9.6s swell period, and conditions rated 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
