Marin County is looking at mostly marine-layer influenced conditions today, with cool coastal air, locally hazy mornings, and a steady northwest wind pattern over the outer waters. NOAA’s San Francisco Bay Area marine forecast shows moderate to fresh northwest winds north of the Golden Gate and a continuing northwest swell, with seas generally running around 5 to 8 feet depending on zone and distance offshore [web:2][web:18].
Average wave size along the Marin coast is roughly 5 to 7 feet, with the outer waters near Point Reyes closer to 6 to 8 feet and occasional higher sets in exposed areas. Nearby NOAA buoy and forecast detail show a northwest swell around 7 to 9 feet at 8 to 9 seconds, with a smaller south swell around 2 to 3 feet at 13 to 15 seconds [web:2].
For tides, today’s Marin County tide cycle includes a morning high near 4.19 feet at 4:08 AM, a low near -1.39 feet at 9:21 PM, plus an afternoon low near 3.08 feet at 3:06 PM and an evening high near 7.23 feet at 9:21 PM [web:11]. The strongest water movement will be near the morning and evening tide changes, so harbor bars and exposed shore breaks may see more active conditions [web:2][web:16].
In plain terms, expect a breezy, cool coastal day with a solid northwest swell, choppy outer-water conditions, and cleaner, smaller surf in more sheltered spots. The strongest surf energy will favor open north and west-facing breaks, while protected areas should stay more manageable [web:2][web:18].
raw data from noaa, curated by surforecast pacificwaverider
References: NOAA National Weather Service marine forecast, NOAA Tides and Currents, and NOAA buoy and marine forecast products [web:2][web:11][web:16][web:18].