Live Wind
Offshore Wind Checker
Is the wind offshore at your break? Check in one tap.
Popular Beaches
48-hour forecast · updated hourly
What is offshore wind?
Offshore wind blows from land toward the ocean — it grooms incoming waves into clean, well-defined lines. A light offshore at 5–15 mph is ideal. Above 20 mph it hollows waves but makes paddling out difficult.
Onshore wind blows from ocean toward land — it chops up the wave surface. The stronger the onshore, the messier the conditions.
Cross-shore wind runs parallel to the beach — it creates some chop on one side but is usually more rideable than onshore. Wind data is sourced from the Open-Meteo weather model, updated hourly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which direction is offshore for my beach?
Offshore direction depends on which way your beach faces. A beach facing west has offshore wind from the east. Quiver calculates this automatically from each beach's shore orientation data.
What wind speed is ideal for surfing?
Light offshore winds of 5–15 mph are ideal — they clean up the wave face without making paddling out too difficult. Winds over 20 mph (even offshore) can cause issues, and winds over 30 mph are dangerous for most surfers.
Why does wind direction change throughout the day?
As the land heats up during the day, air flows from the cooler ocean toward land — creating onshore breezes. At night and early morning, the land cools faster, often producing light offshore winds. This is why dawn patrol sessions typically have the cleanest conditions.
How accurate is the wind forecast?
Wind data comes from the Open-Meteo weather model, updated hourly. Near-shore forecasts are generally accurate within 2–5 mph for the next 12 hours. Local terrain features like cliffs and buildings can cause deviations from the forecast.