Northern California
Best window·Sunday 6AM–9AM·5ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Moonstone 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, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 7mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–4ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with glassy conditions and poor - fair conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Sat, Jun 27: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, Jun 28: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Moonstone Beach is one of the few genuinely beginner-friendly surf spots in Humboldt County, with a wide flat beach and sandy bottom producing mellow waves. Despite the name — moonstones and agates are found on the beach itself, not in the surf zone. A local surf camp operates here, making it one of the few places in far NorCal where newcomers can safely learn. Even here, cold water requires a thick wetsuit, and shark awareness is essential in the Red Triangle.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Moonstone beach is 2ft with a 6.8s swell period. Wind is W at 5mph 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 Moonstone beach is 2ft, produced by a 3.3ft NW primary swell at 7s, a 0.8ft 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 Moonstone beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 9.25s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Moonstone 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 Moonstone 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.
Moonstone beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Moonstone Beach is one of the few genuinely beginner-friendly surf spots in Humboldt County, with a wide flat beach and sandy bottom producing mellow waves. Despite the name — moonstones and agates are found on the beach itself, not in the surf zone. A local surf camp operates here, making it one of the few places in far NorCal where newcomers can safely learn. Even here, cold water requires a thick wetsuit, and shark awareness is essential in the Red Triangle.
The prime season at Moonstone 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 Moonstone beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, urchins. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Moonstone 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.
