United States · North America
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Create Profile →Current conditions refresh every 3 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.
We compare the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Cannon Beach. The delta tells you whether conditions are shaping up better, worse, or about the same as a typical early July.
We score each day of the 7-day forecast using the same algorithm as the leaderboard, and highlight the highest scorer.
Open-Meteo's Marine API (swell height, period, water temperature) and Weather API (wind and conditions).
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.
The best week for surf at Cannon Beach is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
Moderate swell providing fun waves for a session. Short-period wind swell: expect weak, crumbly faces. Gentle onshore putting some texture on the faces. Conditions improving through the afternoon.
Heads up: rip risk elevated.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 57% cleaner than the average comparison city right now.
Noticeably cleaner air than a typical city. Good conditions for prolonged outdoor activity.
Not a pollutant. Ozone is naturally higher at altitude and near the coast, and lower in cities where traffic exhaust breaks it down. High readings here typically indicate clean air. Can cause short-term airway irritation during intense exercise but is not linked to the long-term health risks of particulate pollution.
Additive health score: each pollutant contributes points relative to its WHO 2021 guideline and long-term health impact (PM2.5 9, NO₂ 5, O₃ 3, PM10 2, SO₂ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 21:00
Moderate water clarity: ~6m visibility
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Cannon Beach is a scenic, beginner-friendly beach break on the northern Oregon coast, famous for the massive Haystack Rock sea stack that punctuates the wide sandy beach. The wave breaks across a gently sloping expanse of compacted sand, producing soft, crumbling waves that roll rather than pitch. The setting is spectacular: rugged sea stacks, dense Pacific Northwest forest, and dramatic winter storm light. This is a cold-water learning environment with genuine character.
North-westerly to westerly groundswells arrive consistently from October through April, generated by North Pacific storm systems. The beach's gentle gradient means the waves break far from shore, dissipating energy as they roll in. Summer brings smaller, less frequent swells but warmer weather. Easterly offshore winds provide the cleanest conditions but are uncommon; early mornings before the prevailing westerly establishes offer the best window.
The wide beach offers multiple peaks spread across a long stretch of sand. The area near Haystack Rock tends to have slightly more defined banks. Beginners should stay in the reformed whitewater close to shore. More experienced riders can sit on the outer bars where the green faces offer longer, unbroken rides. The peaks shift with the tides and sand movement.
The water is cold year-round (10-14C). Rip currents develop during larger swells, particularly in the channels between sandbars. Sneaker waves (unexpectedly large surges) occur on this coastline and have swept people from the beach. Never turn your back on the ocean. The tidal range is significant and intertidal rocks become exposed at low tide near the headlands. Logs and debris from winter storms can be present in the impact zone.
Multiple car parks serve the beach along Hemlock Street. The beach is flat and immediately accessible. Facilities include toilets and seasonal lifeguard presence. Surf rental is available from a few shops in town. The main beach is a short walk from the town centre.
Cannon Beach is a popular tourist destination but the surf crowd is small. Even on good days, expect only 5-15 surfers in the water. The cold water and inconsistent conditions keep dedicated surfers at better breaks further south. The vibe is relaxed and uncrowded.
A full 5/4mm wetsuit with hood, boots, and gloves is essential year-round. This is cold Pacific Northwest water that never warms significantly. A longboard or foam board maximises wave count on the gentle, rolling faces. The best surf arrives during autumn and winter storms, but conditions deteriorate rapidly as the storm arrives. Time your session for the window before a front, when the swell is building but the offshore wind still holds. Haystack Rock and its tidepool ecology are protected; maintain distance and never climb on it.
Surf at Cannon Beach
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Daily scores over the last 12 months at Cannon Beach
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Cannon Beach tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 49/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
View Best Time to Go →Combining historical conditions with school holiday crowd pressure to find the sweet spot.
The timing score combines two signals: historical conditions quality (how good the skiing or surfing typically is in a given week, based on 5 years of weather data) and crowd pressure (how many of this destination's feeder markets have school holidays that week).
Crowd pressure is weighted by each feeder country's share of visitors. If 40% of a resort's visitors come from France and France is on holiday, that contributes 0.40 to the crowd pressure score. Crowds can reduce the timing score by up to 35%, ensuring conditions still matter most.
Scores: 5 = great conditions with low crowds (the sweet spot). 4 = great conditions with moderate crowds, or good conditions with low crowds. 3 = average. 2 = below average conditions or very crowded. 1 = poor conditions or peak holiday chaos.
Last 31 days of logged conditions.
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