Swimming at Ruby Beach today
Forks, Washington
Updated 4:03 AM PDT
What decides a swimming score
Before you swim
Surf is running 3.9 ft today, which makes shorebreak and currents stronger than usual.
At 60°F the water is cold enough that unprotected swimmers risk cold-water shock.
Swim near a staffed lifeguard tower, and check the National Weather Service surf-zone forecast for the official rip-current outlook — we report conditions, we don't forecast rip currents.
Better nearby for swimming
Ruby Beach is also scored for
About Ruby Beach
Ruby Beach sits on the Washington coast, where the water runs from about 47°F in February to 60°F in August.
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in August, the warmest month, it sits around 60°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.
Today it is 60°F. That is right on the August average of 60°F for this beach.
Tide predictions come from NOAA station James Island about 27.8 km away on the open coast.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruby Beach good for swimming today?
Poor for swimming — we score it 49 out of 100 today. The limiting factor is surf calmness at 3.9 ft.
What makes a good swimming day?
We weight water temperature (40%), surf calmness (25%), uv exposure (15%) and combine them into one score. Conditions we cannot read are left out rather than guessed.
When is the best time of year to swim at Ruby Beach?
The water here never averages above 70°F — even in August, the warmest month, it sits around 60°F. Most people wear a wetsuit.