Northern California
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.
Sun, May 10: 6–7ft, 19s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 6-7ft waves on SW swell at 19s and 13mph out of the WNW.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 18s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on W swell at 9s with light winds out of the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 12s with light winds out of the SSW. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 12s with gentle SW breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 5-7ft with a 11.05s swell period. Wind is WNW at 13mph 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 Bolinas Jetty is 5-7ft, produced by a 1ft SW primary swell at 19s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.5ft W tertiary swell at 13s, a 3.4ft W wind swell swell at 11s. 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 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 11.2s swell period, and conditions rated Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
