Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Glass 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: 6–7ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 6-7ft and poor conditions with 7mph from the N. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Mon, May 11: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Tue, May 12: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 11s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out good with 5-6ft waves. Later in the day looks more promising — 5-6ft and poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s with light winds out of the SSW. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Glass Beach is primarily a tourist attraction in Fort Bragg famous for its colorful sea glass, not a conventional surf spot. The rocky coastline and rough terrain make water entry and exit dangerous, with waves breaking over rock and debris from the former dump site. While theoretically surfable on bigger NW swells, this is not a recognized or regularly-surfed break and should only be considered by experienced surfers familiar with rocky NorCal conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Glass Beach is 5-7ft with a 6.8s swell period. Wind is N at 14mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Glass Beach is 5-7ft, produced by a 3.6ft W primary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 5.3ft 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 Glass Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 10.85s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Glass 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 Glass 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.
Glass Beach is a reef with a rock bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Glass Beach is primarily a tourist attraction in Fort Bragg famous for its colorful sea glass, not a conventional surf spot. The rocky coastline and rough terrain make water entry and exit dangerous, with waves breaking over rock and debris from the former dump site. While theoretically surfable on bigger NW swells, this is not a recognized or regularly-surfed break and should only be considered by experienced surfers familiar with rocky NorCal conditions.
The prime season at Glass 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 Glass Beach include rocks, cobblestone bottom, cold water, strong currents, dangerous entry/exit, not a real surf break. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Glass 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.
