Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Agate Beach, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 4-5ft and mostly poor - fair with 9mph N winds.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Expect 5-6ft all day on W swell at 11s with light WSW winds — nothing amazing but surfable.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 11s and light SSE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 12s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 5mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Agate Beach near Patrick's Point in Humboldt County is a powerful, exposed beach break described as "for experts" by local safety assessments, with huge waves, boiling surf, submerged rocks, and icy water. The NW swell exposure produces heavy, unpredictable conditions that demand experience and fitness. The dramatic coastal scenery is stunning but the surf is no joke — strong rip currents and sneaker waves are constant hazards.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Agate Beach is 4-5+ft with a 11.55s swell period. Wind is NNW at 8mph and 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 Agate Beach is 4-5+ft, produced by a 3.8ft W primary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 2.7ft NW wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Agate Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.85s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Agate Beach works best with a NW 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 Agate 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.
Agate Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Agate Beach near Patrick's Point in Humboldt County is a powerful, exposed beach break described as "for experts" by local safety assessments, with huge waves, boiling surf, submerged rocks, and icy water. The NW swell exposure produces heavy, unpredictable conditions that demand experience and fitness. The dramatic coastal scenery is stunning but the surf is no joke — strong rip currents and sneaker waves are constant hazards.
The prime season at Agate 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 Agate Beach include submerged rocks, strong rip currents, cold water, sharks, sneaker waves, heavy surf, steep drop-offs. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Agate 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.
