Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ocean 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, 19s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 4-5ft waves and poor - fair conditions with moderate W wind around 12mph.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 3-4ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 10mph from the SSW.
Tue, May 12: 2–3ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on W swell at 12s and gentle SW breeze. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on W swell at 12s with light winds out of the SSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Thu, May 14: 2–3ft, 17s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on W swell at 11s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ocean Beach is one of the heaviest beach breaks in North America, stretching 3.5 miles along San Francisco's western edge where powerful Pacific groundswells unload onto constantly shifting sandbars. Winter swells regularly produce double-overhead-plus surf with a notorious "zone of death" paddle-out through relentless whitewater and strong currents generated by the Golden Gate tidal exchange. Even experienced surfers treat OB with serious respect — this is not a learner's wave.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ocean Beach is 4-5ft with a 11.05s swell period. Wind is W at 12mph 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 Ocean Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 1ft SW primary swell at 19s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 0.5ft W tertiary swell at 13s, a 3.4ft W wind swell swell at 11s. 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 Ocean Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 11.35s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ocean 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 Ocean 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.
Ocean Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Ocean Beach is one of the heaviest beach breaks in North America, stretching 3.5 miles along San Francisco's western edge where powerful Pacific groundswells unload onto constantly shifting sandbars. Winter swells regularly produce double-overhead-plus surf with a notorious "zone of death" paddle-out through relentless whitewater and strong currents generated by the Golden Gate tidal exchange. Even experienced surfers treat OB with serious respect — this is not a learner's wave.
The prime season at Ocean Beach is winter, 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 Ocean Beach include strong currents, heavy shorebreak, cold water, shifting sandbars, sharks, rip currents, large surf. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ocean 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.
