Washington
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ruby Beach, Washington. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Apr 28: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 8s and glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Wed, Apr 29: 5–7ft, 19s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 5-6ft waves on W swell at 14s and calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Thu, Apr 30: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 13s with light N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, May 1: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 12s with light winds out of the N. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, May 2: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 7mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to fair.
Rideable all day with 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 8s and glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Rideable all day with 5-6ft waves on W swell at 14s and calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 13s with light N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 9mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ruby Beach is a scenic, sandy beach break on Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula coast that offers mellow, rolling waves perfect for learning and progression. The eastward-facing beach receives consistent autumn and winter swell from Pacific storms, with the sand bottom providing soft, forgiving conditions ideal for beginners. This remote, undercrowded gem delivers reliable waist-to-shoulder-high waves in a stunning natural setting dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ruby Beach is 5-6ft with a 11.4s swell period. Wind is W at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ruby Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 3.7ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 2.2ft W secondary swell at 11s, a 0.5ft SW 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.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Ruby Beach is Sunday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 6ft waves, a 15.5s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ruby 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 Ruby 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.
Ruby Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ruby Beach is a scenic, sandy beach break on Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula coast that offers mellow, rolling waves perfect for learning and progression. The eastward-facing beach receives consistent autumn and winter swell from Pacific storms, with the sand bottom providing soft, forgiving conditions ideal for beginners. This remote, undercrowded gem delivers reliable waist-to-shoulder-high waves in a stunning natural setting dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
The prime season at Ruby 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 Ruby Beach include strong currents, cold water temperatures, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ruby 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
