Drakes Estero surfForecast / CAL – Marin County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 am Saturday 16 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
11.8° 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 Sunday (May 17) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.5m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 14s. 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 11s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 8AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5AM (Sun 17th May)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 17th May)11ft (3.5m) 11s
Most Powerful 8AM (Sun 17th May)15ft (4.5m) 11s

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 18°C on Sun night, min 9°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (gales from the NW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light.

Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
!
!
!
1
1
!
4
3
4
1
3
2
1
2
2
1
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)
3.5
WNW
9
4.5
WNW
9
4
WNW
11
3.5
WNW
11
3.5
WNW
11
3.5
NW
10
1.7
WNW
11
2.3
WNW
10
3
NW
10
1.8
WNW
10
2.1
NW
10
1.7
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
11
1.7
WNW
12
1.8
WNW
11
1.5
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
10
1.4
WNW
10
1.6
WNW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1704
3070
3879
2648
2912
2238
637
1110
1606
666
866
533
745
776
844
508
419
359
386
378
520
Wind (km/h)
50
NW
60
NW
50
NW
35
NW
40
NW
20
N
25
NW
40
NW
20
NW
10
WNW
20
WNW
5
NW
10
SSE
15
NW
5
S
15
S
10
SSW
5
SSW
15
S
10
SSW
15
SSE
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
on
cross-off
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
High Tide
1:21PM1.34m
00:00AM1.94m
2:19PM1.36m
00:46AM1.95m
3:16PM1.36m
1:35AM1.91m
4:14PM1.36m
2:29AM1.81m
5:11PM1.36m
3:28AM1.68m
6:07PM1.38m
4:34AM1.51m
7:01PM1.43m
Low Tide
6:26PM0.69m
7:36AM-0.49m
7:15PM0.77m
8:27AM-0.52m
8:09PM0.82m
9:19AM-0.48m
9:09PM0.84m
10:14AM-0.41m
10:19PM0.84m
11:12AM-0.29m
11:39PM0.79m
12:10PM-0.16m
1:03AM0.69m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:00
5:58
5:58
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:15
8:15
8:16
8:17
8:19
8:20
8:21
Temp °C
12
12
11
12
16
18
16
14
12
17
16
11
14
13
10
13
14
12
13
13
11
2
0
-1
4
7
12
10
7
5
15
13
7
12
12
7
10
12
11
11
11
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SW
13
2.5
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
11
0.3
WNW
18
2.3
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
10
1.5
WNW
10
1.7
WNW
10
1.8
WNW
11
1.7
WNW
12
1.8
WNW
11
1.5
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
11
1.3
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
10
1.4
WNW
10
1.6
WNW
10
Energy kJ
148
140
82
78
46
1412
637
61
1001
666
485
533
745
776
844
508
419
359
386
378
520
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
SSW
16
0.1
SW
20
0.1
SW
18
0.2
SSW
18
0.4
SW
13
0.4
SW
16
0.3
SSW
16
0.7
W
16
0.9
WNW
15
1.1
W
14
1.2
WNW
13
0.4
SW
21
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
19
0.4
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SW
18
0.4
SW
18
0.5
SW
15
Energy kJ
50
15
13
31
45
68
51
251
355
494
447
162
90
78
236
82
112
154
109
109
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SW
20
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SSW
13
0.2
SSW
13
0.3
SW
17
0.3
SSW
15
0.3
SW
16
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
14
0.3
SSW
13
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
12
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.3
SSW
12
Energy kJ
15
12
12
34
16
46
44
42
41
37
36
35
59
54
29
75
73
29
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
WNW
9
4.5
WNW
9
4
WNW
11
3.5
WNW
11
3.5
WNW
11
3.5
NW
10
2.3
WNW
10
3
NW
10
2.1
NW
10
Energy kJ
1704
3070
3879
2648
2912
2238
1110
1606
866
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
4
4
1
2
2
2
4
4
3
4
3
3
3
3
3
1
3
3
3
Distance (km)
144
147
143
48
147
59
144
145
17
0
145
0
5
0
5
37
5
1
5
5
5
Best forecast wave conditions in Marin County
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
3
3
4
2
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
6
7
4
5
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
6
7
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
9
9
9
7
5
4
5
4
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