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PURESURFERSLIVE SURF ATLAS
CALIFORNIA / JalamaSPOT / 439

Cracks.

Reef / beach

Left & right34.500° N / 120.494° W
Color satellite and aerial imagery centered on the approximate Cracks catalogue locationSATELLITE / N ↑
Satellite / aerial view · centred on the approximate catalogue pin. Not live imagery.
Powered by Esri · Esri, Vantor, Earthstar Geographics, and the GIS User Community.
CLOSE-UP / N ↑
OPEN THE LIVE ATLAS ↗
Approximate catalogue pin · check the actual shoreline. © OpenStreetMap contributors
Open Cracks on the map ↗Best surf near me

Forecast & tide at a glance

Estimated surf face · feet · Pacific time. The existing PureSurfers face-estimation engine; not a measured or calibrated breaking-wave report.

Estimated surf face3.0 ftForecast for Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind10.3 mphWSW from
NOAA tide reference—MLLW · not loaded

READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS

Swell by swell.

Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.

Thu Oct 22, 1:00pm Pacific

GFS · 4 components
Primary swell
2.2ft Hs

WSW from · 243° · 12.9 s

2.2 feet
Wind sea
2.3ft Hs

SW from · 232° · 5.0 s

2.3 feet
Secondary swell
2.0ft Hs

WSW from · 244° · 11.8 s

2.0 feet
Tertiary swell
1.2ft Hs

WSW from · 245° · 14.9 s

1.2 feet
MFWAM · 2 components
Primary swell
3.3ft Hs

WNW from · 288° · 7.4 s

3.3 feet
Wind sea
0.2ft Hs

SSE from · 152° · 1.6 s

0.2 feet

Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.

Coastal wind retrieved Thu Oct 22, 12:30pm. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.

Source retrievals: GFS Oct 22, 1:00pm · ECMWF Oct 22, 12:45pm · MFWAM Oct 22, 1:00pm. Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.

Seven-day overview

06:00–19:00 forecast hours; daily values are not a full-day maximum.
Pacific dayEstimated surf faceMean windHours available
Thu Oct 222.9 ft11.0 mph14/14
Fri Oct 234.0 ft13.6 mph14/14
Sat Oct 243.4 ft5.5 mph14/14
Sun Oct 252.7 ft7.0 mph14/14
Mon Oct 262.5 ft9.6 mph14/14
Tue Oct 273.0 ft10.9 mph14/14
Wed Oct 283.3 ft9.1 mph14/14
Hourly details · next 72 hours
Pacific timeEstimated surf faceModel rangeSet proxySwell fromWindTide MLLWModels
Thu 1:00pm3.0 ft2.7–3.2 ft4.4 ftWSW · 10.4 s10.3 mph WSW—3
Thu 2:00pm2.9 ft2.6–3.2 ft4.4 ftWSW · 10.4 s10.3 mph WSW—3
Thu 3:00pm3.0 ft2.6–3.3 ft4.5 ftWSW · 10.4 s8.7 mph WSW—3
Thu 4:00pm3.0 ft2.6–3.3 ft4.5 ftWSW · 10.5 s9.9 mph WSW—3
Thu 5:00pm2.8 ft2.3–3.4 ft4.1 ftWSW · 10.5 s15.7 mph W—3
Thu 6:00pm2.7 ft2.0–3.4 ft4.1 ftWSW · 10.5 s13.4 mph WNW—3
Thu 7:00pm3.0 ft2.6–3.4 ft4.5 ftWSW · 10.4 s16.5 mph NW—3
Thu 8:00pm3.1 ft2.7–3.4 ft4.6 ftWSW · 10.4 s16.2 mph NW—3
Thu 9:00pm3.1 ft2.9–3.3 ft4.7 ftWSW · 10.2 s14.2 mph NW—3
Thu 10:00pm3.2 ft3.1–3.3 ft4.8 ftWSW · 10.0 s13.8 mph NW—3
Thu 11:00pm3.2 ft3.1–3.3 ft4.8 ftW · 8.3 s11.2 mph NW—3
Fri 12:00am3.2 ft3.0–3.5 ft4.8 ftW · 8.3 s8.9 mph NW—3
Fri 1:00am3.1 ft2.9–3.5 ft4.7 ftW · 8.3 s15.0 mph NW—3
Fri 2:00am3.2 ft2.9–3.6 ft4.8 ftW · 8.3 s14.8 mph NW—3
Fri 3:00am3.3 ft2.9–3.8 ft5.0 ftW · 8.3 s13.0 mph NW—3
Fri 4:00am3.5 ft3.2–4.0 ft5.3 ftW · 8.2 s12.4 mph NW—3
Fri 5:00am3.6 ft3.0–4.1 ft5.4 ftW · 8.1 s12.5 mph NNW—3
Fri 6:00am3.7 ft2.9–4.2 ft5.6 ftW · 8.2 s7.4 mph N—3
Fri 7:00am3.9 ft3.1–4.2 ft5.8 ftW · 8.2 s6.6 mph NNW—3
Fri 8:00am4.0 ft3.3–4.4 ft6.0 ftW · 8.7 s13.5 mph NNW—3
Fri 9:00am4.0 ft3.2–4.5 ft6.0 ftW · 8.6 s15.7 mph NW—3
Fri 10:00am4.0 ft3.1–4.6 ft6.0 ftW · 8.6 s15.0 mph NW—3
Fri 11:00am4.0 ft3.1–4.6 ft6.0 ftW · 8.5 s15.3 mph NW—3
Fri 12:00pm4.0 ft3.1–4.6 ft5.9 ftW · 8.5 s14.2 mph NW—3
Fri 1:00pm3.9 ft3.0–4.6 ft5.9 ftW · 8.5 s13.0 mph NW—3
Fri 2:00pm3.9 ft3.0–4.5 ft5.8 ftWNW · 8.4 s14.9 mph NW—3
Fri 3:00pm4.0 ft3.2–4.6 ft6.0 ftWNW · 8.4 s15.5 mph NW—3
Fri 4:00pm4.1 ft3.4–4.5 ft6.1 ftWNW · 8.3 s15.6 mph NW—3
Fri 5:00pm4.1 ft3.5–4.6 ft6.2 ftWNW · 8.3 s15.3 mph NW—3
Fri 6:00pm4.2 ft3.5–4.6 ft6.3 ftWNW · 8.3 s14.4 mph NW—3
Fri 7:00pm4.2 ft3.4–4.7 ft6.3 ftWNW · 8.4 s14.5 mph NW—3
Fri 8:00pm4.0 ft3.5–4.4 ft5.9 ftWNW · 8.4 s12.8 mph NNW—3
Fri 9:00pm4.0 ft3.7–4.4 ft6.0 ftWNW · 8.5 s16.0 mph N—3
Fri 10:00pm3.9 ft3.7–4.3 ft5.9 ftWNW · 8.7 s15.6 mph N—3
Fri 11:00pm3.9 ft3.7–4.3 ft5.9 ftWNW · 8.8 s17.4 mph NNE—3
Sat 12:00am3.9 ft3.7–4.2 ft5.8 ftWNW · 9.0 s18.0 mph NNE—3
Sat 1:00am3.8 ft3.6–4.1 ft5.7 ftWNW · 9.1 s15.3 mph NNE—3
Sat 2:00am3.8 ft3.5–4.1 ft5.7 ftWNW · 9.3 s12.5 mph NNE—3
Sat 3:00am3.7 ft3.5–4.1 ft5.5 ftWNW · 9.4 s10.9 mph NNE—3
Sat 4:00am3.6 ft3.4–4.0 ft5.5 ftWNW · 9.4 s9.1 mph NNE—3
Sat 5:00am3.6 ft3.3–4.0 ft5.3 ftWNW · 9.5 s8.1 mph NNE—3
Sat 6:00am3.5 ft3.2–3.9 ft5.3 ftWNW · 9.5 s5.7 mph NNE—3
Sat 7:00am3.4 ft3.2–3.8 ft5.1 ftWNW · 9.5 s4.8 mph NNE—3
Sat 8:00am3.4 ft3.1–3.8 ft5.0 ftWNW · 9.5 s3.6 mph NNE—3
Sat 9:00am3.3 ft3.0–3.7 ft4.9 ftWNW · 9.5 s3.0 mph NE—3
Sat 10:00am3.7 ft2.9–4.3 ft5.5 ftWNW · 9.7 s0.8 mph NE—3
Sat 11:00am3.2 ft2.8–3.7 ft4.8 ftWNW · 9.4 s1.9 mph SW—3
Sat 12:00pm3.5 ft2.8–4.2 ft5.3 ftWNW · 9.7 s3.6 mph WSW—3
Sat 1:00pm3.5 ft2.8–4.2 ft5.3 ftWNW · 9.7 s4.7 mph WSW—3
Sat 2:00pm3.4 ft2.7–4.1 ft5.2 ftWNW · 9.6 s5.8 mph W—3
Sat 3:00pm3.4 ft2.7–4.1 ft5.1 ftWNW · 9.6 s7.7 mph W—3
Sat 4:00pm3.3 ft2.6–3.9 ft5.0 ftWNW · 9.5 s8.8 mph WNW—3
Sat 5:00pm3.3 ft2.6–3.9 ft4.9 ftWNW · 9.5 s9.2 mph NW—3
Sat 6:00pm3.3 ft2.5–3.8 ft4.9 ftWNW · 9.5 s8.8 mph NNW—3
Sat 7:00pm3.3 ft2.8–3.8 ft5.0 ftWNW · 9.5 s8.8 mph NNW—3
Sat 8:00pm3.2 ft2.5–3.7 ft4.8 ftWNW · 9.6 s8.5 mph N—3
Sat 9:00pm3.1 ft2.4–3.7 ft4.7 ftWNW · 9.6 s8.1 mph N—3
Sat 10:00pm3.1 ft2.4–3.7 ft4.7 ftWNW · 9.7 s8.4 mph N—3
Sat 11:00pm3.1 ft2.5–3.7 ft4.7 ftWNW · 9.7 s8.6 mph N—3
Sun 12:00am3.1 ft2.5–3.6 ft4.6 ftWNW · 9.7 s8.7 mph NNW—3
Sun 1:00am3.0 ft2.3–3.5 ft4.5 ftWNW · 9.8 s8.7 mph N—3
Sun 2:00am3.0 ft2.4–3.5 ft4.5 ftWNW · 9.8 s7.8 mph N—3
Sun 3:00am2.9 ft2.2–3.5 ft4.4 ftW · 9.8 s7.8 mph N—3
Sun 4:00am2.9 ft2.3–3.5 ft4.4 ftW · 9.8 s8.1 mph N—3
Sun 5:00am2.9 ft2.4–3.4 ft4.4 ftW · 9.9 s8.4 mph N—3
Sun 6:00am2.9 ft2.2–3.4 ft4.3 ftW · 9.9 s8.3 mph N—3
Sun 7:00am2.8 ft2.1–3.3 ft4.2 ftW · 10.0 s7.6 mph N—3
Sun 8:00am2.8 ft2.3–3.3 ft4.3 ftW · 10.0 s7.2 mph NNE—3
Sun 9:00am2.8 ft2.1–3.3 ft4.2 ftW · 10.0 s3.9 mph N—3
Sun 10:00am2.7 ft2.0–3.2 ft4.1 ftW · 10.0 s2.7 mph NNW—3
Sun 11:00am2.7 ft1.9–3.2 ft4.0 ftW · 10.0 s2.2 mph NW—3
Sun 12:00pm2.6 ft1.9–3.1 ft4.0 ftW · 10.0 s3.0 mph WNW—3
Sun 1:00pm2.6 ft1.8–3.1 ft3.9 ftW · 10.0 s6.0 mph W—3

Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.

This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.

Know the spot

A hike-south reef-and-bar section known for punchier peaks than the campground beach.

Also known as The Crack.

Break type
Reef / beach
Wave direction
Left & right
Reported difficulty
Advanced
Bottom
Reef ledges & sand
Reported swell preference
SW in summer; W–NW in winter
Reported tide preference
Low–mid; reef and bar dependent

The Crack is a durable local name, but the actual peak slides with sand and swell direction. It can produce a strong left and a shorter right.

Before paddling out: Shallow reef, longshore current, cliff pinch points, rising tide, wind, sharks and remote rescue.

Walk south from Jalama Beach County Park on a safe tide Approximate named-section pin

Source references

Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.

THE FIELD GUIDE / Cracks

Read this stretch of coast.

Follow the swell window

The catalogue’s reported preference for Cracks is “SW in summer; W–NW in winter”. Compare that description with each component’s incoming direction and period. An offshore swell number is a reference; the local wave still depends on the actual shoreline, bottom and tide.

Check the water level

Reported tide preference: Low–mid; reef and bar dependent. Follow the named NOAA station and its trend through your intended session, then inspect the entry and exit at the beach. A station prediction is not a water-level sensor at this takeoff.

Read the bottom and the lineup

Catalogue bottom: Reef ledges & sand. Reported difficulty: Advanced. Watch several sets before choosing where to enter, keep clear of riders, and compare the actual wave with your ability and equipment.

A useful note for next time

Record the section you actually surfed, the time, incoming swell direction and period, wind and tide trend. Add what the wave did: connected sections, closeouts, drift or exposed obstacles. Comparing that observation with the same model next time is more useful than treating one colored number as the whole session.

Camera references nearby

Jalama Beach ↗

Jalama Beach Store / Surfline · about 0.9 km from the catalogue pin · video-page

Beach and surf view published by the campground store.

Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.

Make the next session easier

Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work

Nearby spots to compare

PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.

COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE

Waves at the model cells

4.07–4.53 ft

Significant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.

Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.