Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at MacKerricher Main Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at MacKerricher Main 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: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with glassy conditions.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. 1-2ft waves to start the day on NW swell at 7s.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–1ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Expect 1ft waves early on WNW swell at 5s. Wind increases to 9mph from the NW.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 2ft on WNW swell at 9s with gentle WNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor.
MacKerricher Main Beach is the most accessible surf spot near Fort Bragg, with a wide sandy beach and consistent W and NW swell exposure. The park's infrastructure makes it more approachable than truly remote NorCal spots, but cold water, currents, and shark presence still require intermediate-level experience. The wide beach spreads surfers out, keeping the lineup relatively uncrowded.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at MacKerricher Main Beach is 1ft with a 6.2s swell period. Wind is WNW at 5mph 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 MacKerricher Main Beach is 1ft, produced by a 3.2ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 MacKerricher Main Beach is Saturday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.65s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
MacKerricher Main 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 MacKerricher Main 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.
MacKerricher Main Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. MacKerricher Main Beach is the most accessible surf spot near Fort Bragg, with a wide sandy beach and consistent W and NW swell exposure. The park's infrastructure makes it more approachable than truly remote NorCal spots, but cold water, currents, and shark presence still require intermediate-level experience. The wide beach spreads surfers out, keeping the lineup relatively uncrowded.
The prime season at MacKerricher Main 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 MacKerricher Main Beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, shorebreak, strong currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our MacKerricher Main 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.
