Surf Window Planner

When and where to paddle out over the next couple of days — clean, offshore windows matched to each Tofino break and your level.

We cross the swell and wind forecast with what each break likes and your level, and mark the clean, offshore windows. For the hour-by-hour read, see Surf & Sea Conditions.

Best bet

Cox Bay today, 06:00–20:00.

Tofino's outer beaches face the open Pacific and pick up swell year-round — winter is the most consistent and the biggest. Mornings are often the cleanest, before the afternoon onshore westerly comes up; that's when most people surf.

South Chesterman

beginners

Town-adjacent and the mellowest of the main beaches — peeling waves, best on a higher tide. The left end gets steeper and suits stronger surfers. Frank Island at its south end is only reachable around low tide — mind the return.

Today: 15:00–19:00 · ~0.9 m · glassy, light wind
Tomorrow: 07:00–13:00 · ~0.7 m · glassy, light wind
19:00–20:00 · ~1.0 m · NW wind (cross-shore)

Cox Bay

advanced

Catches the most swell of the town beaches — best mid-to-high tide with an offshore easterly. Gentler at the Maltby (south) end on a small day; 'the corner' at the north end is for confident surfers when it's big.

Today: 06:00–20:00 · ~1.0 m · glassy, light wind
Tomorrow: No clean window — too small here.

North Chesterman

intermediate

A more powerful wave with strong currents that needs some size to work — ideally chest-high and up. For intermediates and stronger, and the less-crowded of the two Chesterman ends.

Today: No clean window — too small here.
Tomorrow: No clean window — too small here.

Long Beach

intermediate

Long, sandy and exposed, inside Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (a park pass is needed to stop). It can look gentle, but the local surf shops warn beginners off — strong currents run here, especially near Lovekin Rock. Take a lesson before paddling out.

Today: 06:00–20:00 · ~1.0 m · glassy, light wind
Tomorrow: 07:00–16:00 · ~0.8 m · NW wind (cross-shore)
18:00–20:00 · ~1.0 m · NW wind (cross-shore)

See the hour-by-hour conditions

A window is not a green light

The water runs about 8–15°C all year, so cold and tiring out are the real risks alongside rip currents on the open beaches. Wear a full wetsuit — hood, gloves and boots in winter — surf near others, and if you're learning, go with one of the local surf schools. Long Beach's gentle look hides strong currents. These windows describe the wind and swell from a model — not whether the water is safe for you today. Expert breaks have rock, rips and waves that break hard. Look at the sea before you go in, surf within your level, and never surf alone. In an emergency on or near the water, call 911 and ask for the Coast Guard, or hail them on marine VHF channel 16.

Forecast: Open-Meteo (open-meteo.com), CC BY 4.0.

Surf Window Planner

Surf Window Planner

About these tools

South Chesterman

Cox Bay

North Chesterman

Long Beach