Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Bolinas Jetty for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Bolinas Jetty, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Wed, Jun 24: 2–2ft, 19s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with gentle S breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on SW swell at 15s with moderate NW wind around 10mph. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with 11mph from the W. Afternoon breeze fills in to 16mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 1-2ft on W swell at 11s with gentle SSW breeze. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Bolinas Jetty is where the Bolinas Lagoon meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and channelized waves along the jetty structure. The break offers fun, manageable waves that peel along the jetty, with the sand bottom providing forgiving conditions for intermediate surfers. SW swells wrap into the lagoon entrance and NE winds blow offshore, making it a solid option when the exposed coast is too powerful. The infamous Bolinas localism (torn-down road signs) is more town-level than in-water.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Bolinas Jetty is 2ft with a 17.5s swell period. Wind is WNW at 5mph 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 Bolinas Jetty is 2ft, produced by a 1.4ft SW primary swell at 18s, a 1.4ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.3ft W tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.3ft W 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 Bolinas Jetty is Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 15.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Bolinas Jetty works best with a SW swell and NE 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 Bolinas Jetty. 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.
Bolinas Jetty is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Bolinas Jetty is where the Bolinas Lagoon meets the Pacific, creating shifting sandbars and channelized waves along the jetty structure. The break offers fun, manageable waves that peel along the jetty, with the sand bottom providing forgiving conditions for intermediate surfers. SW swells wrap into the lagoon entrance and NE winds blow offshore, making it a solid option when the exposed coast is too powerful. The infamous Bolinas localism (torn-down road signs) is more town-level than in-water.
The prime season at Bolinas Jetty is winter, 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 Bolinas Jetty include strong currents near jetty, shifting sandbars, rocks near jetty structure, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Bolinas Jetty 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
