Northern California
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.
Sun, May 10: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. 5-6ft waves to start the day on W swell at 10s. The N wind builds to around 11mph by afternoon.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on W swell at 11s and glassy conditions. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 6mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Expect 4-5ft all day on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions — nothing amazing but surfable. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 5mph.
Wed, May 13: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s and gentle SSE breeze. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 5mph from the NW and dropping conditions to fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
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 5-6ft with a 11.55s swell period. Wind is N at 11mph 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 5-6ft, produced by a 3.1ft W primary swell at 10s, a 1.9ft WNW secondary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft WSW tertiary swell at 15s, a 2.8ft NW wind swell swell at 5s. 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 Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.9s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
