Northern California
Best window·Monday 6AM–9AM·4ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Salmon Creek, 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: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. Midday is the call — 2-3ft waves with light winds out of the W and fair conditions. 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.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Aim for the middle of the day — 2ft on SSW swell at 15s with 15mph out of the WNW. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph WNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 22mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 14s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 19mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Salmon Creek is the most popular surf spot in Sonoma County and a powerful, exposed beach break often compared to a smaller version of Ocean Beach. The wide beach stretch offers multiple peaks, with the main break in front of the parking lot drawing the biggest crowd, while walking south along the dunes reliably produces empty peaks. Winter surf is fierce with punishing paddle-outs and strong currents — summer is gentler and more accessible to intermediates. One of the most consistent spots in NorCal due to its open exposure.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Salmon Creek is 2ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is WNW at 8mph 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 Salmon Creek is 2ft, produced by a 2.1ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1.4ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 Salmon Creek is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 4ft waves, a 8.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Salmon Creek works best with a WSW 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 Salmon Creek. 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.
Salmon Creek is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Salmon Creek is the most popular surf spot in Sonoma County and a powerful, exposed beach break often compared to a smaller version of Ocean Beach. The wide beach stretch offers multiple peaks, with the main break in front of the parking lot drawing the biggest crowd, while walking south along the dunes reliably produces empty peaks. Winter surf is fierce with punishing paddle-outs and strong currents — summer is gentler and more accessible to intermediates. One of the most consistent spots in NorCal due to its open exposure.
The prime season at Salmon Creek 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 Salmon Creek include strong currents, rip currents near rivermouth, cold water, sharks, shifting sandbars, shore break. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Salmon Creek 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.
