Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Point Cabrillo, 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: 6–7ft, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 6-7ft and poor - fair with 19mph out of the N.
Mon, May 11: 6–7ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and gentle NNE breeze. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 11s with gentle NW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 11s with 9mph from the ESE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
13s period — conditions are improving beyond your forecast
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Point Cabrillo is a scenic rocky point break on the Mendocino County coast that wraps around a dramatic headland, offering multiple peaks and a long, peeling ride when conditions align. The break works best during large fall and winter swells when northwest swell wraps around the point, creating well-defined waves that peel along the rocky bottom. This is a quality spot for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves with stunning coastal views and good shape on the right swell direction.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Point Cabrillo is 5-7ft with a 11.55s swell period. Wind is N at 19mph 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 Point Cabrillo is 5-7ft, produced by a 3.6ft W primary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.8ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 4.7ft WNW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Cabrillo is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.9s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Point Cabrillo works best with a WNW swell and SE 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 Cabrillo. 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 Cabrillo is a point with a rock bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Point Cabrillo is a scenic rocky point break on the Mendocino County coast that wraps around a dramatic headland, offering multiple peaks and a long, peeling ride when conditions align. The break works best during large fall and winter swells when northwest swell wraps around the point, creating well-defined waves that peel along the rocky bottom. This is a quality spot for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded waves with stunning coastal views and good shape on the right swell direction.
The prime season at Point Cabrillo 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 Point Cabrillo include rocks, strong currents, urchins, cold water. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Point Cabrillo 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.
