Bolinas
United States · North America
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.7m WNW
Wind: 8 km/h WSW (onshore)
Beach faces: SW
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is coming in at an oblique angle, some refraction expected.
Today hour by hour
Updated 11:44Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 14°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
Today's briefing
0.9m swell at 12s. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 14°C.
AI-generated summary for Bolinas. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Bolinas
Not enough data yet. Log a session to help build the accuracy score.
Best time to go
No great windows in the next 2 days
Best available option is Tomorrow around 11am (score: 29). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
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Session journal
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid-high tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly below average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bolinas.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Bolinas
Bolinas is a sheltered beach and point break located in Marin County, California, just north of San Francisco. The seafloor is composed of a very gentle, sloping mix of sand and smooth cobblestones, which systematically absorbs the raw energy of the Pacific Ocean. Because the spot is tucked behind a pronounced headland, it requires a distinct southerly swell to wrap into the bay, or a massive westerly swell that heavily diffracts around the point. A north-easterly wind blows directly offshore, providing optimal face tension. The combination of the sheltered location and the flat bathymetric gradient produces exceptionally soft, slow-peeling waves that crumble rather than plunge. This highly forgiving wave architecture makes Bolinas a premier destination for beginner surfers and longboarders. The waves provide lengthy, stable platforms for mastering basic trim and footwork without the stress of steep drops or heavy impact zones. However, it rarely offers the speed or steepness required by advanced shortboarders.
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Create Profile →Frequently asked questions
How often is this page updated?
Current conditions refresh every 6 hours when the cron runs. Hourly data updates every 30 minutes. The 7-day forecast, luck factor, and packing notes are all pre-computed at the same time.
What is the luck factor?
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Bolinas. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical late April.
How is 'best session' picked?
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Where does the data come from?
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
Does the score capture local knowledge?
Honestly, no. Every break has tide windows, swell directions and reef contours that a global model cannot see. Treat the score as a starting point, then check a local cam.
When is the best time to surf Bolinas?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.