Mavericks
United States · North America
Right now
OvercastWind and swell direction
Swell: 0.8m WNW
Wind: 8 km/h NW (onshore)
Beach faces: W
Very light wind. Expect glassy, clean conditions.
Swell is arriving at a great angle for this beach.
Today hour by hour
Updated 11:46Expected crowds
Prediction model v16amDawn patrol territory
7amMidweek quiet
Next 7 days
Forecast via Open-MeteoWhat to pack
- 4/3mm wetsuit recommended for 15°C water.
- Standard shortboard conditions.
Today's briefing
1.0m swell at 12s with good period. Onshore wind creating some chop. Water temperature 14°C.
AI-generated summary for Mavericks. Always check local reports before heading out.
Forecast accuracy at Mavericks
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: 31). Conditions are below the Good threshold but may still be surfable.
Nearby spots right now
Crowd report
No recent check-ins. Be the first to report.
Session journal
Record your session, conditions and gear.
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Create free accountTide
Approximate modelBest on mid tide
Swell forecast
7-day forecastDaily score breakdown
This week is looking slightly above average for late April.
Comparing the 7-day forecast to the last 5 years of marine data for the same week at Mavericks.
What's driving it
Recent form
Last 3 days of logged conditions.
About Mavericks
Mavericks is an infamous, highly dangerous big-wave reef break located half a mile offshore from Half Moon Bay in Northern California. The bathymetry is defined by a deep-water, jagged rock ledge that sits isolated in the Pacific Ocean. This extreme geological anomaly intercepts immense north-westerly winter groundswells tracking down from the Gulf of Alaska. When these massive swells hit the reef, the ocean compresses violently, producing a towering, monstrously thick right-hand wave with a cavernous, plunging lip. An easterly offshore wind is necessary to groom the expansive faces and combat the frequent marine layer. Due to the unfathomable hydraulic weight of the water, the freezing ocean temperatures, the presence of apex predators, and the immense speed required to escape the lip, Mavericks is strictly the domain of elite, professional big-wave surfers. It demands unparalleled physical conditioning, advanced breath-hold training, and highly specialised big-wave equipment to survive.
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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 Mavericks. 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 Mavericks?
Check our timing score heatmap above for a week-by-week breakdown combining surf conditions with crowd pressure.