Northern California
Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 2-3+ft waves.
Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 2-3+ft waves.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·4-5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Secrets, 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: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 2-3+ft and poor early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at fair - good.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on NW swell at 11s with gentle WNW breeze. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4+ft, 10s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 3-4+ft waves on NW swell at 9s with light winds out of the NNE. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and very poor by then.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 9s with light winds out of the NE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 17mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on S swell at 14s and gentle NNE breeze. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Secrets turns Good.
Check Secrets from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Secrets is a sheltered beach break tucked along the rugged Sonoma County coastline, offering fun, manageable waves for intermediate surfers seeking a quieter getaway. The northeast-facing beach orientation captures northwest swell energy while remaining protected from harsh winds, creating peeling shoulders and forgiving sand bottom conditions. As the name suggests, this spot rewards those who know about it with consistent waves and a mellow, uncrowded vibe.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Secrets is 2-3+ft with a 8.6s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph. Conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Secrets is 2-3+ft, produced by a 4.4ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.9ft S secondary swell at 12s, a 1.2ft 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 Secrets is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Secrets works best with a NW swell and SE 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 Secrets. 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.
Secrets is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Secrets is a sheltered beach break tucked along the rugged Sonoma County coastline, offering fun, manageable waves for intermediate surfers seeking a quieter getaway. The northeast-facing beach orientation captures northwest swell energy while remaining protected from harsh winds, creating peeling shoulders and forgiving sand bottom conditions. As the name suggests, this spot rewards those who know about it with consistent waves and a mellow, uncrowded vibe.
The prime season at Secrets is fall, 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 Secrets include rip currents, occasional fog, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Secrets 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).
