Overview

Half Moon Bay is a kitesurfing spot located on the San Mateo County coast, south of San Francisco, California. This semi-sheltered bay is famous in the surfing world for the giant waves at Mavericks in winter. For kitesurfing, northwest thermal winds blow regularly in the afternoon from March through October. The spot is suited for advanced riders due to cold water, strong currents, and exposure to Pacific swells.

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Spot forecast for Half Moon Bay

Sunrise 07:22 · Sunset 18:26

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< 7 kn7–12 kn13–20 kn21–30 kn31–40 kn41+ kn Gusts Your minimum: 7 kn

Forecasts provided by Open-Meteo

Swell and waves

Swell and tides over 8 days. Premium members see the swell and tides over 8 days. Without a subscription: 5 days.

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Wave height: < 0.5 m 0.5–1 m 1–2 m 2–3 m ≥ 3 m

Swell data by Open-Meteo Marine

Tides

Heights above lowest astronomical tide, in the spot's local time. Computed 2.1 km from the spot.

Monday 19 October Low tide 00:13 · 0.8 m High tide 07:39 · 1.8 m Low tide 12:30 · 1.5 m High tide 17:43 · 1.9 m
Tuesday 20 October Low tide 01:02 · 0.8 m High tide 08:07 · 1.9 m Low tide 13:33 · 1.4 m High tide 18:51 · 1.9 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 01:43 · 0.8 m High tide 08:30 · 2 m Low tide 14:20 · 1.2 m High tide 19:51 · 1.9 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 02:19 · 0.8 m High tide 08:51 · 2.1 m Low tide 15:00 · 1 m High tide 20:45 · 1.9 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 02:51 · 0.9 m High tide 09:12 · 2.2 m Low tide 15:38 · 0.8 m High tide 21:37 · 1.9 m

Half Moon Bay: when to go?

Rideable days and hours computed for a minimum wind of 7 knots · log in to set your own (foil, twin-tip…)

Season · peak

221h

in March · 26 rideable days

The season runs from February to May, peaking in March: 23 rideable days a month and 221 hours of usable wind, at 15 °C. The low point is December, at 8 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 84%13-20 knots · 15%21-30 knots · 1%31+ knots · under 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 84% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is February, at 14 °C. The wettest month is December, with 118 mm.

Monthly averages: Half Moon Bay

Monthly averages — Half Moon Bay — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	11.5	83 h	15 °C	85 mm
February	19.5	131 h	14 °C	115 mm
March	26.0	221 h	15 °C	65 mm
April	21.5	189 h	15 °C	11 mm
May	25.0	223 h	16 °C	9 mm
June	17.5	146 h	16 °C	3 mm
July	17.0	101 h	17 °C	4 mm
August	17.5	99 h	18 °C	9 mm
September	16.0	110 h	19 °C	3 mm
October	17.0	105 h	19 °C	14 mm
November	15.0	102 h	17 °C	88 mm
December	8.0	69 h	15 °C	118 mm

Photo gallery of Half Moon Bay

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Technical details of Half Moon Bay spot

The spot works with winds from S, SSW, SW, W, WNW, NW, NNW.

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

Spot opening date: Open all year round
Required level: Advanced

On the water

Semi-sheltered ocean spot with waves of 0.5 to 2m depending on swell. Water is cold year-round (10-15°C/50-59°F), a 4/3 wetsuit is essential, or 5/3 in winter with hood. Sandy and rocky bottom. Significant tidal currents and drift currents. Kelp beds are common offshore. The bay offers partial protection from large northwest swells.

Hazards

Very cold water — hypothermia risk, full neoprene gear required. Strong tidal currents and rip currents. Submerged rocks and reefs, particularly toward Pillar Point. Great white sharks present in the area — the Red Triangle is one of the most active zones. Frequent thick fog reducing visibility. Dense kelp that can tangle in lines. Powerful North Pacific swells in winter.

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Higgins Canyon Road2.7 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

Half Moon Bay Switch1.5 km

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Half Moon Bay Airport8.1 km

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Webcams near Half Moon Bay

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Nearby spots

All spots: California

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Half Moon Bay kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot