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Each location is refreshed once every three hours. The hourly view, 7-day forecast, luck factor and packing notes come from the same stored update.
We compare the 7-day forecast with the version-matched historical observations available for the same time of year at Mavericks. The delta shows whether conditions look better, worse or about the same as a typical late 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).
Flat as a lake. Save your energy for another day. Long-period groundswell delivering clean, organised lines. Onshore wind making a mess of the surface. Best conditions early morning before the sea breeze arrives. Not enough swell to get this spot firing properly.
PeakWave scores are planning signals, not safety clearance. Check local authorities, official bulletins and on-site conditions before you go. Read our editorial policy.
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.
Heads up: rocks exposed at low tide.
Indicators derived from forecast data, not official warnings. Always check local lifeguard or official advice.
The air here is 67% 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, NOโ 5, Oโ 3, PM10 2, SOโ 1 at WHO limits). Data via Open-Meteo. City markers show live readings. Red line marks the WHO guideline. Updated 15:00
Moderate water clarity: ~3m visibility
Daily scores over the last 12 months at Mavericks
Historical quality only. Safety is not reconstructed for this view.
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Create Profile โPartly. The model uses stored spot geometry, swell ranges and tide preferences where configured. It cannot see changing banks, crowds, access, closures or everything visible on a local cam, so treat it as a starting point.
The best week for surf at Mavericks is the week of 30 November (score 3/5) with low crowds.
This guide was generated from conditions data. Know this spot? Submit your own tips below.
Mavericks is one of the world's most notorious big-wave breaks, an offshore rock ledge half a mile from shore at Half Moon Bay in Northern California. When immense North Pacific winter storms send their energy south, the deep-water reef produces towering, impossibly thick right-hand waves that detonate with catastrophic force. The wave has killed. The combination of giant surf, freezing water, dense kelp, and great white sharks makes Mavericks one of the most hostile surfing environments on the planet.
Massive north-westerly groundswells from November through March, generated by Gulf of Alaska storm systems. The wave needs at least 15ft of open ocean swell to properly activate the deep reef. The biggest days produce 40-60ft faces. Easterly offshore winds are essential to groom the enormous faces. These conditions align perhaps 10-20 times per season.
The take-off zone sits far offshore over the deep reef ledge. The right breaks along the reef for 200+ metres with an inside bowl section that doubles in size. Paddle-in positioning requires being at the exact peak as the wave stands up. Tow-in teams work on the biggest days when paddle-in is impossible. The deep-water channel provides the safety zone.
Everything. The hydraulic force is immense. Hold-downs last 30-60 seconds in violently turbulent, freezing (10-12C) water. Thick kelp forests can entangle surfers during hold-downs. Great white sharks inhabit the area. The rock shelf produces severe turbulence zones. The half-mile paddle from shore in these conditions is exhausting. Medical emergencies require helicopter evacuation. Surfers have died here.
The break is accessed from Pillar Point Harbor. The paddle-out is approximately half a mile through cold, kelp-filled water. Alternatively, jet-ski access from the harbour. The cliff above provides a spectator viewpoint during major events. No beach access. Safety boats are essential support.
Mavericks is surfed by a tight community of 10-30 elite big-wave specialists. These are surfers who have spent years training specifically for this break. The unwritten hierarchy is based on years of commitment and demonstrated ability. Newcomers are scrutinised heavily before being accepted.
Mavericks requires years of specific preparation. Heavy-water training, breath-hold conditioning, big-wave gun shaping (9'0" to 11'0"), inflation vest familiarity, cold-water endurance, and jet-ski rescue coordination are all prerequisites. A 6/5mm wetsuit with hood, boots, and gloves is standard. The paddle-out alone is a fitness test. Study the wave from the cliff for entire seasons before considering paddling out. Know your limits absolutely.
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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 29 days of logged conditions.
Based on historical weekly averages
Conditions at Mavericks tend to be best between 06:00 to 09:00 in July.
Average score during this window: 20/100
See timing scores, school holiday busyness, and lift pass pricing to find the best time to book.
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