Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dillon 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, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor - fair at 4-5ft. Afternoon shapes up better with 5-6ft and poor conditions.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WNW swell at 12s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Poor - 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.
Dillon Beach is a remote and scenic Northern California surf spot tucked near the mouth of Tomales Bay, where the beach faces nearly due west and picks up consistent northwest and west swells rolling in off the Pacific. The waves here are typically punchy and fast-breaking beach break, with conditions varying from mellow rollers ideal for intermediate surfers to powerful, hollow sections during larger northwest swells in fall and winter. Its relative isolation along the Northern California coast keeps crowds minimal, rewarding those willing to make the drive with uncrowded lineups and a raw, rugged coastal atmosphere.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dillon Beach is 4-5ft with a 7.55s swell period. Wind is NW at 14mph 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 Dillon Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 3.4ft W primary swell at 9s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 19s, a 4.9ft WNW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Dillon Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dillon 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 Dillon 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.
Dillon Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Dillon Beach is a remote and scenic Northern California surf spot tucked near the mouth of Tomales Bay, where the beach faces nearly due west and picks up consistent northwest and west swells rolling in off the Pacific. The waves here are typically punchy and fast-breaking beach break, with conditions varying from mellow rollers ideal for intermediate surfers to powerful, hollow sections during larger northwest swells in fall and winter. Its relative isolation along the Northern California coast keeps crowds minimal, rewarding those willing to make the drive with uncrowded lineups and a raw, rugged coastal atmosphere.
The prime season at Dillon 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 Dillon Beach include strong currents, cold water, rip currents, sharks, shore break, fog. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Dillon 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.
