Northern California
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Dunes Beach, 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: 2–3ft, 19s period, rated Poor - Fair. Aim for the middle of the day — 2-3ft on SW swell at 12s with calm winds. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 3-4ft and poor - fair with 8mph SW winds.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 2-3ft. Things come together by the afternoon with 3-4ft at poor.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor with 11mph WNW winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 14s with gentle N breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 15mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Dunes Beach is a sandy beach break near Half Moon Bay backed by expansive coastal dunes, offering a more sheltered alternative to the exposed breaks further north. The west-facing beach picks up NW groundswells that wrap into the area, producing mellow waves suitable for intermediate surfers and longboarders. Cold water, fog, and strong currents are standard NorCal conditions, but the relatively calmer surf and scenic dune backdrop make it a pleasant spot.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Dunes Beach is 2-4+ft with a 17.5s swell period. Wind is WSW at 7mph 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 Dunes Beach is 2-4+ft, produced by a 1.7ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 1.6ft SSW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 Dunes Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Dunes 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 Dunes 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.
Dunes Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Dunes Beach is a sandy beach break near Half Moon Bay backed by expansive coastal dunes, offering a more sheltered alternative to the exposed breaks further north. The west-facing beach picks up NW groundswells that wrap into the area, producing mellow waves suitable for intermediate surfers and longboarders. Cold water, fog, and strong currents are standard NorCal conditions, but the relatively calmer surf and scenic dune backdrop make it a pleasant spot.
The prime season at Dunes 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 Dunes Beach include strong currents, cold water, fog, shore break, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Dunes 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
