Washington
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington. 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, 10s period, rated Fair. Consistent 4-5ft surf through the day on W swell at 10s with 7mph NW winds.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 5-6ft with 8mph from the N. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with gentle ENE breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to fair.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 10s with gentle W breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Cape Disappointment offers powerful beach breaks along Washington's dramatic southwestern coast, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The spot faces east and catches consistent west-moving swells that wrap around the cape, creating fun, rolling waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to avoid crowds. The dynamic interplay between ocean swells and river currents creates unique wave patterns and a raw, rugged atmosphere perfect for those seeking authentic Pacific Northwest surf.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Cape Disappointment State Park is 5-6ft with a 10.3s swell period. Wind is NW at 7mph 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 Cape Disappointment State Park is 5-6ft, produced by a 4.6ft W primary swell at 10s, a 0.8ft SW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Cape Disappointment State Park is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.7s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Cape Disappointment State Park 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 Cape Disappointment State Park. 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.
Cape Disappointment State Park is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Cape Disappointment offers powerful beach breaks along Washington's dramatic southwestern coast, where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. The spot faces east and catches consistent west-moving swells that wrap around the cape, creating fun, rolling waves ideal for intermediate surfers looking to avoid crowds. The dynamic interplay between ocean swells and river currents creates unique wave patterns and a raw, rugged atmosphere perfect for those seeking authentic Pacific Northwest surf.
The prime season at Cape Disappointment State Park 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 Cape Disappointment State Park include strong currents, dangerous river mouth conditions, rocks, cold water, changeable weather. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Cape Disappointment State Park 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.
