Is the Monterey Bay rough? What to expect on the crossing
Sometimes, with winter the roughest season. Monterey Bay is a broad open bight 20 miles wide, and Monterey Bay Whale Watch says sea conditions on its all-day trips can be variable. NOAA's Coast Pilot says gales are rare over the bay, and a USGS study found significant wave heights far greater at its southern Marina station than at the northern Santa Cruz Harbor station, especially in winter.
Crossing the Monterey Bay this week? Dizzout is drug-free sound therapy you can start in your seat on the crossing, with relief in about 90 seconds.Starts in your browser · works with any headphones
Stop seasickness. Get your personalized Dizzout plan. Paid subscription for full access.
On your phone? Scan to start there.
Bay · Central California · Reputation among passengers: mixed: commonly reported as uncomfortable in the wrong conditions.
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
Roughness summarises typical reported conditions for this crossing, not a forecast for any given sailing.
Winter storms and swell in an open bight
In the Nausea Index table of the 121 sea crossings we cover, the Monterey Bay is rated manageable, one of 81 in that band, with 40 rated higher. Full table: the roughest sea crossings, ranked.
Key facts
- The Monterey Bay is a bay, and passenger reports place it in the moderate roughness band.
- The mechanism behind that reputation: Winter storms and swell in an open bight.
- Conditions are reported roughest in January, February and December.
- The calmest months are usually July, August and September.
Why does the Monterey Bay get rough?
Monterey Bay is a broad open bight 20 miles wide between Point Pinos and Point Santa Cruz, and deep submarine valleys extend into it. Measured significant wave heights at the southern Marina station are far greater than at the northern Santa Cruz Harbor station, especially in winter. Winds of 17 knots or more occur 1 to 4 percent of the time from November through March and are rare in July, August and September, but extreme gusts of 40 to 50 knots have been reported over the bay from October through May. In winter, storms or frontal systems pass through the area about every 7 to 10 days on average.
When is the Monterey Bay roughest?
The Coast Pilot says that in summer the Pacific high is strong and few storms affect this coast, while in winter storms or frontal systems pass through about every 7 to 10 days on average. Winds of 17 knots or more occur 1 to 4 percent of the time from November through March and are rare in July, August and September. Sea fog is the summer problem, from about July through September.
| Roughest water in Jan | Roughest water in Feb | Roughest water in Mar | Roughest water in Apr | Roughest water in May | Roughest water in Jun | Roughest water in Jul | Roughest water in Aug | Roughest water in Sep | Roughest water in Oct | Roughest water in Nov | Roughest water in Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rough | Rough | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Mixed | Calm | Calm | Calm | Mixed | Mixed | Rough |
Typical seasonal pattern, not a forecast. Any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Check the marine forecast for your sailing date. Select a month to see every sea and ferry crossing ranked for it.
Where to be on board
Front to back
- Bow (front)Avoid
- MidshipBest
- Stern (aft)OK
The crossing: 3 to 4 hours
Roughest stretch: Out over the open bay, away from the harbor
Midship on a low deck. Whale trips run 3 to 4 hours, so pick a seat with a view of the horizon.
Get your read
A few quick questions about you, then your trip. Nothing is saved or sent.
Step 1: about you
How you usually react to travel is the single best signal. These come from the validated MSSQ.
Step 2: your trip
Pick the kind of trip you are planning.
Crossing the Monterey Bay? Have Dizzout ready
Stop seasickness
Dizzout is drug-free sound therapy you can start in your seat on the crossing, with relief in about 90 seconds. It plays precisely calibrated audio through any headphones you already own, wired or Bluetooth. Free to download.
Get your personalized Dizzout plan. Paid subscription for full access.
30,000+ travelers in 30+ countries · How we count
On your phone? Scan to start there.
Comparing apps first? See how the motion sickness apps compare
Not travelling yet? Remind me the day before my trip
Know someone who gets motion sick?
Send them the app that helps stop it, drug-free, in about 90 seconds, works with any headphones. Free to download.
The crossings that cross it
| Route | Typical duration | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Monterey whale watching (Monterey Bay Whale Watch) | 4 hours in the morning, 3 hours in the afternoon | Leaves from Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey, at the south end of the bay. |
| Moss Landing whale watching (Sanctuary Cruises) | 3.5 to 4 hours | The operator often waits until the day of the cruise to decide whether to run, because marine forecasts often prove inaccurate. |
| Santa Cruz whale watching (Santa Cruz Whale Watching) | about 3 to 4 hours | The operator says trip length depends on the conditions. Santa Cruz is at the north end of the bay. |
What helps on this crossing
- Check on the day. Sanctuary Cruises says marine forecasts often prove inaccurate, so it often waits until the day of the cruise to decide whether to run.
- If your dates are flexible, aim for July to September, the calmest months in the table. The Coast Pilot says winds of 17 knots or more are rare in those months.
- Sit midship on a low deck, keep your eyes on the horizon and put your phone away on the way out and back.
For the full toolkit see the seasickness guide, or what to do once it has already started. For what the trials actually say about the oldest trick on that list, see the verdict on looking at the horizon. If the rocking follows you ashore afterwards, that is land sickness, which is normal, and it passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Monterey Bay rough in July?
July is among the calmest months. The Coast Pilot says winds of 17 knots or more are rare in July, August and September, and sea fog is the main problem from about July through September. A USGS study notes that in summer southerly or southwesterly Pacific swells can be dominant, and that the Marina station on the south shore is protected from them by the Monterey Peninsula headland.
Is Monterey Bay rough in January?
January is one of the roughest months. The Coast Pilot says storms or frontal systems pass through this coast about every 7 to 10 days in winter, and extreme gusts of 40 to 50 knots have been reported over the bay from October through May. A USGS study found significant wave heights far greater at the southern Marina station than at Santa Cruz Harbor, especially in winter.
Is the Monterey whale watching boat rough?
It varies. Monterey Bay Whale Watch says sea conditions on its all-day trips can be variable. Its morning tours run 4 hours and afternoon tours 3 hours, and Sanctuary Cruises says it often waits until the day of the cruise to decide whether to run.
When is Monterey Bay calmest?
July to September. The Coast Pilot says winds of 17 knots or more are rare in those months, and few storms affect this coast in summer. October and November are mixed, and December to February is the rough season.
Other crossings
Sources & further reading
- https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/coast-pilot/files/cp7/CPB7_C06_WEB.pdf
- https://www.usgs.gov/publications/local-wave-climate-and-long-term-bed-shear-stress-characteristics-monterey-bay-ca
- https://www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/faq/
- https://www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/trips/monterey-bay-all-day-tour/
- https://www.sanctuarycruises.com/monterey-bay-cruises/whale-watching/
- https://www.sanctuarycruises.com/faqs/
- https://www.santacruzwhalewatching.com/monterey-bay-whale-watching
- https://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/station_page.php?station=46114
Sea conditions described here are typical patterns drawn from published marine and operator information as of July 2026, not a forecast: conditions on any given sailing depend on the weather that day, and any month can deliver a calm crossing or a bad one. Route and operator names are trademarks of their respective owners; Dizzout is not affiliated with or endorsed by them. Seasickness sensitivity varies from person to person; this page is informational and not medical advice.