Northern California
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.
Sun, May 10: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Steady 3-4ft waves on offer on WNW swell at 9s — light NW winds.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and light winds out of the WSW. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 12s and gentle S breeze. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 9mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 3-4ft with a 10.55s swell period. Wind is NW at 8mph 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 3-4ft, produced by a 4.5ft WNW primary swell at 10s, a 1.2ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 1ft 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 Dunes Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
