Drakes Estero surfForecast / CAL – Marin County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 am Tuesday 12 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Drakes Estero surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Drakes Estero sea temperature is
11.9° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Drakes Estero this week:

The surf forecast for Drakes Estero over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 12) at 11AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Drakes Estero in the next 16 days are 4.5m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (May 13) at 2AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11AM (Tue 12th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Best Surf 8PM (Thu 14th May)10ft (3.0m) 8s
Most Powerful 5PM (Sun 17th May)15ft (4.5m) 10s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Drakes Estero over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Tue morning). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue morning, strong winds from the NW by Wed afternoon).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Sat afternoon, moderate winds from the NNW by Sun night).

Tuesday
12
Wednesday
13
Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
3
0
0
1
0
3
3
1
!
1
0
0
0
0
!
!
0
!
1
1
!
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
WNW
11
1.7
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
12
1.8
WNW
11
2.5
WNW
6
2.2
WNW
12
1.9
WNW
11
2.5
WNW
8
3
WNW
9
2.5
WNW
8
3.5
WNW
8
3.5
WNW
9
3
WNW
9
4
WNW
9
3.5
WNW
10
3.5
WNW
10
4.5
WNW
10
3.5
NW
10
2
WNW
10
2.5
WNW
10
3
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
431
698
236
799
475
1315
793
850
1261
857
1645
1667
1508
2202
2354
2679
3549
2368
859
1230
1953
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
35
WNW
30
NW
35
WNW
45
NW
20
NNW
20
NW
40
NW
40
NW
45
NW
55
NW
55
NW
55
NW
60
NW
45
NW
30
NW
45
NW
25
NNW
30
NW
35
NW
25
NW
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
High Tide
9:05AM1.18m
9:36PM1.56m
10:15AM1.21m
10:07PM1.68m
11:20AM1.26m
10:41PM1.79m
12:22PM1.31m
11:19PM1.88m
1:21PM1.34m
00:00AM1.94m
2:19PM1.36m
00:46AM1.95m
3:16PM1.36m
1:35AM1.91m
Low Tide
3:28PM0.24m
4:36AM0.17m
4:12PM0.35m
5:19AM-0.05m
4:55PM0.47m
6:03AM-0.24m
5:40PM0.59m
6:49AM-0.40m
6:26PM0.69m
7:36AM-0.49m
7:15PM0.77m
8:27AM-0.52m
8:09PM0.82m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:03
6:03
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:12
8:13
8:14
8:15
8:15
8:15
8:16
Temp °C
11
13
13
12
12
11
12
12
11
12
12
11
11
11
11
12
13
12
13
14
12
8
6
5
5
3
2
8
6
2
3
2
0
0
-1
-1
5
4
4
7
7
3
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.4
WNW
11
0.7
SW
15
0.9
WNW
12
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SW
13
0.5
SW
13
1.9
WNW
11
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SSW
16
0.7
SSW
15
0.7
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SW
13
2.5
WNW
10
2
WNW
10
0.3
SSW
16
2.4
WNW
10
Energy kJ
431
217
236
123
88
88
793
264
220
199
193
160
148
140
140
77
46
1281
859
51
1080
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
15
0.1
S
11
0.6
SSW
14
0.2
SSW
19
0.4
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.6
SSW
16
0.1
W
20
0.1
W
19
0.3
WNW
17
0.1
S
10
0.3
SSW
16
0.3
SSW
16
0.1
SW
19
0.1
SW
19
0.1
SW
18
0.2
SSW
18
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.2
SSW
13
0.6
W
16
Energy kJ
171
2
140
37
81
80
179
8
7
59
2
51
50
15
14
12
31
45
68
16
183
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
11
0.2
S
13
0.1
S
10
0.4
SSW
18
0.3
SSW
12
0.1
S
10
0.1
SW
20
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
WNW
18
0.3
SW
17
Energy kJ
2
2
13
2
123
30
2
15
12
12
34
61
43
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
WNW
11
1.2
WNW
6
1.8
WNW
11
2.5
WNW
6
2.2
WNW
12
2
WNW
8
2.5
WNW
8
3
WNW
9
2.5
WNW
8
3.5
WNW
8
3.5
WNW
9
3
WNW
9
4
WNW
9
3.5
WNW
10
3.5
WNW
10
4.5
WNW
10
3.5
NW
10
2.5
WNW
10
3
NW
10
Energy kJ
698
90
799
475
1315
513
850
1261
857
1645
1667
1508
2202
2354
2679
3549
2368
1230
1953
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
1
4
3
1
3
3
1
3
4
2
3
4
4
3
2
3
4
Distance (km)
0
145
109
144
147
17
26
145
48
144
147
143
145
789
144
145
145
48
48
145
17
Best forecast wave conditions in Marin County
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
2
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
3
2
2
4
4
3
4
3
2
4
4
2
5
4
4
7
5
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
9
9
6
8
9
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
6
5
5
4
4
7
5
5
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Drakes Estero:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Drakes Estero surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Drakes Estero Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Drakes Estero provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Drakes Estero can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Drakes Estero surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Drakes Estero) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).

Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Drakes Estero may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.

Drakes Estero is 34 km (21 miles) from the city of Novato. If you plan a vacation in Marin County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Novato. Novato has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest