Washington State Weather & Marine Report — Today
The coastal and nearshore marine pattern today features a persistent surface high with light, mostly variable winds and diurnal westerly breezes in channels and straits, producing generally mild onshore conditions and seas mainly in the 4–6 ft range for most coastal waters [web:4].
Average wave heights along the outer Washington coast are running near 4 to 6 feet with shorter period wind swell mixed in close to shore; averaged surfable sets are commonly in the 3–5 ft range at exposed points while pocket beaches report smaller averages near 1–3 ft [web:4][web:10].
Nearby buoy observations show dominant swell directions from the WNW to NW with primary periods around 10–14 seconds and measured significant wave heights that match the 4–6 ft sea forecast, while shorter 6–8 second wind swell components are present at some nearshore stations [web:10][web:7].
Brief tide information: upcoming high tide for central Puget Sound locations is around mid to late morning with a lower tide this afternoon (times vary by harbor — consult local tide tables for your exact port) [web:2].
Swell direction and period summary: primary NW/ WNW swell with 10–14 s periods giving the bulk of energy to exposed beaches, with a secondary wind swell 6–8 s from a more westerly quadrant nearshore [web:10][web:7].
| Average wave size | 4–6 ft (outer coast), 3–5 ft sets at points, 1–3 ft at sheltered beaches [web:4][web:10] |
| Dominant swell | NW / WNW, 10–14 s primary; 6–8 s wind swell secondary [web:10][web:7] |
| Seas forecast | Generally 4–6 ft; localized increase to 7–8 ft possible later this week with incoming system [web:4] |