Ward Ave. Beach Surf Forecast, Northern California
Northern California
Current Conditions
PoorWave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.35s
Wind
6mph
SW / Gusts 8mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.4ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
1.3ft @ 14sWNW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 12sSSW
Daily Forecast
3 of 5 daysTue, Mar 312-3ft
Poor - Fair6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 11-2ft
PoorA slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
6am9am12pm3pm
8s NW|3-9mph S
Thu, Apr 26-7ft
Poor - FairAfternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 4-5ft. Swell fills in and gets up to 5-6ft by PM — fair conditions.
6am9am12pm3pm
11s W|2-13mph NW
Forecast Charts
Ward Ave. Beach Surf Spot Guide
Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
W
Best Wind
E
Season
Fall
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.
Cold waterSharksStrong currentsRip currents
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
Ward Ave. Beach Surf Forecast FAQ
What is the current surf forecast for Ward Ave. Beach?
The current wave height at Ward Ave. Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is SW at 6mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the Ward Ave. Beach surf forecast?
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.
What is the breaking wave height at Ward Ave. Beach?
The current breaking wave height at Ward Ave. Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2.4ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 1.3ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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.
When is the best time to surf Ward Ave. Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Ward Ave. Beach is Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 11.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.