Northern California
Best window·Sunday 3PM–6PM·8ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Point Arena, 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: 4–6ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-6ft waves on WNW swell at 6s and glassy conditions. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jun 25: 6–7ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 6-7ft and mostly poor - fair with strong N wind at 17mph.
Fri, Jun 26: 4–6ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 4-6ft with 8mph from the NNW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Jun 27: 7–8ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 7-8ft with 12mph from the NW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sun, Jun 28: 8–10ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Consistent 7-8ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the N. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Point Arena is one of the premier waves in Northern California — a ledgy slab reef producing both lefts and rights, with the left considered one of the best waves in NorCal. The wave works from chest-high to 20-foot-plus faces, breaking over a sharp rock shelf with a rusty ship boiler to avoid at low tide. A fiercely localized spot with a dedicated crew who protect their wave, this is a serious, heavy break that demands expert-level ability and local respect.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Point Arena is 4-5ft with a 17.5s swell period. Wind is NW at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Point Arena is 4-5ft, produced by a 1.7ft SSW primary swell at 14s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 18s, a 0.5ft WNW tertiary swell at 12s, a 2.6ft WNW wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Point Arena is Sunday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 8ft waves, a 8.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Point Arena works best with a NW 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 Point Arena. 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.
Point Arena is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Point Arena is one of the premier waves in Northern California — a ledgy slab reef producing both lefts and rights, with the left considered one of the best waves in NorCal. The wave works from chest-high to 20-foot-plus faces, breaking over a sharp rock shelf with a rusty ship boiler to avoid at low tide. A fiercely localized spot with a dedicated crew who protect their wave, this is a serious, heavy break that demands expert-level ability and local respect.
The prime season at Point Arena 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 Point Arena include sharp reef, shallow rock shelf, submerged ship wreck, sharks, localism, cold water, strong currents, heavy surf. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Point Arena 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.
