Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pacifica Pier, 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, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 5-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 14mph out of the W.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with 10mph SW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the WSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 16s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 11s with light SW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 12mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 12s with light winds out of the SSW. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Pacifica Pier is a mellow beach break located just south of San Francisco, offering consistent, peeling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and those looking for an easy session. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface, and the pier itself creates some interesting channeling effects that can help organize swell during smaller days. The spot works best during fall and winter when larger Pacific swells arrive, though it's accessible year-round due to its protected position on the northern California coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pacifica Pier is 5-7ft with a 10.8s swell period. Wind is W at 14mph 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 Pacifica Pier is 5-7ft, produced by a 3.5ft WNW primary swell at 7s, a 3ft W secondary swell at 11s, a 1.2ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Pacifica Pier is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 11.3s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pacifica Pier 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 Pacifica Pier. 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.
Pacifica Pier is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Pacifica Pier is a mellow beach break located just south of San Francisco, offering consistent, peeling waves that are perfect for learning surfers and those looking for an easy session. The sandy bottom provides a forgiving surface, and the pier itself creates some interesting channeling effects that can help organize swell during smaller days. The spot works best during fall and winter when larger Pacific swells arrive, though it's accessible year-round due to its protected position on the northern California coast.
The prime season at Pacifica Pier 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 Pacifica Pier include pier pilings, occasional rip currents, fog, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pacifica Pier 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.
