Washington
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ruby 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: 4–5ft, 10s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 4-5ft waves on WSW swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Steady 4-5ft waves on offer on W swell at 11s — barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s and calm winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 10s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 7mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to fair.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Ruby Beach is a scenic, sandy beach break on Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula coast that offers mellow, rolling waves perfect for learning and progression. The eastward-facing beach receives consistent autumn and winter swell from Pacific storms, with the sand bottom providing soft, forgiving conditions ideal for beginners. This remote, undercrowded gem delivers reliable waist-to-shoulder-high waves in a stunning natural setting dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ruby Beach is 4-5ft with a 10.2s swell period. Wind is WSW at 5mph 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 Ruby Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 4.5ft WSW primary swell at 10s, a 0.8ft SW secondary swell at 17s, a 0.5ft 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 Ruby Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 10.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ruby 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 Ruby 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.
Ruby Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to beginner surfers. Ruby Beach is a scenic, sandy beach break on Washington's rugged Olympic Peninsula coast that offers mellow, rolling waves perfect for learning and progression. The eastward-facing beach receives consistent autumn and winter swell from Pacific storms, with the sand bottom providing soft, forgiving conditions ideal for beginners. This remote, undercrowded gem delivers reliable waist-to-shoulder-high waves in a stunning natural setting dotted with sea stacks and tide pools.
The prime season at Ruby 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 Ruby Beach include strong currents, cold water temperatures, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ruby 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.
