Overview

Ocean Beach is a legendary kitesurfing spot located on the western coast of San Francisco, California. This 5km sandy beach faces directly into the Pacific Ocean and receives the full power of North Pacific swells. Winds are strong and regular, blowing from the northwest, but conditions are among the most demanding in California: frigid water, violent currents, powerful shore break, and often massive waves. Reserved exclusively for expert riders.

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Spot forecast for Ocean Beach

Sunrise 07:23 · Sunset 18:25

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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 2.5 km from the spot.

Monday 19 October Low tide 00:23 · 0.8 m High tide 07:42 · 1.9 m Low tide 12:45 · 1.6 m High tide 18:01 · 2 m
Tuesday 20 October Low tide 01:14 · 0.8 m High tide 08:15 · 2 m Low tide 13:47 · 1.4 m High tide 19:10 · 2 m
Wednesday 21 October Low tide 01:56 · 0.8 m High tide 08:42 · 2.1 m Low tide 14:34 · 1.3 m High tide 20:09 · 2 m
Thursday 22 October Low tide 02:33 · 0.8 m High tide 09:06 · 2.2 m Low tide 15:15 · 1.1 m High tide 21:02 · 2 m
Friday 23 October Low tide 03:06 · 0.9 m High tide 09:29 · 2.3 m Low tide 15:52 · 0.8 m High tide 21:54 · 2.1 m

Ocean Beach: 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

321h

in June · 29.5 rideable days

The season runs from March to September, peaking in June: 28 rideable days a month and 321 hours of usable wind, at 17 °C. The low point is December, at 7.5 days.

Rideable days per month

Wind strength when it is rideable

7-12 knots · 77%13-20 knots · 22%21-30 knots · 1%

When the spot works, wind sits mostly between 7 and 12 knots — 77% of rideable hours. Big-kite territory. The coldest month is December, at 13 °C. The wettest month is February, with 127 mm.

Monthly averages: Ocean Beach

Monthly averages — Ocean Beach — averaged over 2 years of records — Weather data by Open-Meteo.com — How it is calculated
Month	Rideable days	Usable wind	Temperature	Rain
January	11.0	69 h	14 °C	78 mm
February	18.0	116 h	14 °C	127 mm
March	26.5	222 h	15 °C	80 mm
April	27.0	232 h	15 °C	9 mm
May	28.5	305 h	17 °C	6 mm
June	29.5	321 h	17 °C	0 mm
July	29.5	293 h	17 °C	0 mm
August	29.5	268 h	18 °C	4 mm
September	27.0	207 h	20 °C	0 mm
October	19.5	121 h	20 °C	3 mm
November	11.5	83 h	16 °C	94 mm
December	7.5	59 h	13 °C	93 mm

Photo gallery of Ocean Beach

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Technical details of Ocean Beach spot

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

Rideable Not rideable

Spot opening date · Required level

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

On the water

Very exposed ocean spot with frequent waves of 1 to 4m, sometimes more. Extremely powerful and dangerous shore break. Water is cold year-round (10-14°C/50-57°F), 4/3 wetsuit minimum, 5/3 with hood and gloves recommended. Sandy bottom with shifting sandbars creating unpredictable rip currents. Currents are among the most dangerous in California.

Hazards

Extremely powerful and deadly rip currents — drownings occur regularly. Massive shore break making entries and exits very dangerous. Frigid water — rapid hypothermia without a full wetsuit. Great white sharks in the Red Triangle — one of the most active zones in the world. Unpredictable and powerful waves. Thick and sudden fog. Strong southward drift current. This spot has claimed experienced lifeguards.

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Golden Gate Park0.4 kmsource noaa

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Additional stations

Wolf Back Ridge9 km

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source noaa
KK6MIG-133.9 km

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source CWOP / APRS-IS

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Webcams near Ocean Beach

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Nearby spots

All spots: California

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Ocean Beach kitesurf, wingfoil and surf spot