Northern California
Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 3-4ft waves.
Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 3-4ft waves.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·4-5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ward Ave. Beach, 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 Fair - Good. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 2-3+ft waves. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at fair.
Fri, Sep 4: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and light S winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light winds out of the E. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on NW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3+ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3+ft on WNW swell at 5s with gentle ESE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Ward Ave. Beach from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Ward Ave Beach is a sandy beach break near MacKerricher State Park on the Mendocino coast, offering approachable peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the cold water and remote NorCal conditions require intermediate experience. A quieter alternative to nearby Fort Bragg area breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ward Ave. Beach is 3-4ft with a 9.3s swell period. Wind is SW at 5mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ward Ave. Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 5.9ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 17s. 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 Ward Ave. Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.5s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ward Ave. Beach works best with a W 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 Ward Ave. Beach. 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.
Ward Ave. Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ward Ave Beach is a sandy beach break near MacKerricher State Park on the Mendocino coast, offering approachable peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the cold water and remote NorCal conditions require intermediate experience. A quieter alternative to nearby Fort Bragg area breaks.
The prime season at Ward Ave. Beach 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 Ward Ave. Beach include cold water, sharks, strong currents, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ward Ave. Beach 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).
