Washington
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Rialto Beach, Washington. 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, 10s period, rated Fair. Steady 5-6ft waves on offer on WSW swell at 10s — light winds out of the WSW.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 5-6ft with light N winds. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with light winds out of the ENE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the W and dropping conditions to fair.
Wed, May 13: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on W swell at 10s with light N winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 7s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 8mph from the W and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Rialto Beach in Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula offers consistent beach breaks along a dramatic rocky shoreline dotted with sea stacks and tide pools. The exposure to west-facing swells combined with the beach's natural geography creates fun, workable waves that work well at various tide levels. This scenic break rewards visitors with wild coastal beauty and solid autumn swells, though conditions can be unpredictable year-round due to the Pacific Northwest's weather patterns.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Rialto Beach is 5-6ft with a 10.2s swell period. Wind is WSW 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 Rialto Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 4.9ft WSW primary swell at 10s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.6ft SW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Rialto Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 10.55s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Rialto 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 Rialto 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.
Rialto Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Rialto Beach in Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula offers consistent beach breaks along a dramatic rocky shoreline dotted with sea stacks and tide pools. The exposure to west-facing swells combined with the beach's natural geography creates fun, workable waves that work well at various tide levels. This scenic break rewards visitors with wild coastal beauty and solid autumn swells, though conditions can be unpredictable year-round due to the Pacific Northwest's weather patterns.
The prime season at Rialto 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 Rialto Beach include rocks, strong currents, cold water, changing tides. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Rialto 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.
