Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Ward Ave. Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ward Ave. Beach, 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: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with gentle NNE breeze.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–1ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Expect 1ft waves early on WNW swell at 5s. Wind increases to 9mph from the NW.
Sat, Jun 27: 2–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 9s with light WNW winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor by then.
Sun, Jun 28: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 1-2ft on WNW swell at 9s with calm winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor by then.
Ward Ave Beach is a sandy beach break near MacKerricher State Park on the Mendocino coast, offering approachable peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the cold water and remote NorCal conditions require intermediate experience. A quieter alternative to nearby Fort Bragg area breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ward Ave. Beach is 1ft with a 6.2s swell period. Wind is WNW at 5mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ward Ave. Beach is 1ft, produced by a 3.2ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW 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 Ward Ave. Beach is Saturday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 9.55s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ward Ave. 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 Ward Ave. 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.
Ward Ave. Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ward Ave Beach is a sandy beach break near MacKerricher State Park on the Mendocino coast, offering approachable peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the cold water and remote NorCal conditions require intermediate experience. A quieter alternative to nearby Fort Bragg area breaks.
The prime season at Ward Ave. 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 Ward Ave. Beach include cold water, sharks, strong currents, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ward Ave. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
