Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Anderson Beach, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Afternoon is the play — morning is only poor at 3-4ft. Later in the day looks more promising — 4-5ft and poor.
Sun, May 17: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with 9mph NNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 13mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 4–5ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on NW swell at 9s with gentle NE breeze. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 20: 7–8ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on WNW swell at 13s and light NE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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Anderson Beach is a remote Northern California gem located along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent northwest swells wrap into the cove to produce punchy, hollow beach break peaks. The beach faces roughly eastward in orientation relative to the transect, benefiting from offshore winds that blow from the inland hills and valleys, cleaning up the faces nicely during morning glass sessions. Its isolation along this sparsely populated stretch of the Northern California coast means crowds are rarely an issue, rewarding those willing to make the journey with uncrowded waves.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Anderson Beach is 3-4+ft with a 13.8s swell period. Wind is N at 6mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Anderson Beach is 3-4+ft, produced by a 4.8ft WNW primary swell at 7s, a 3ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 1.4ft SSW tertiary swell at 14s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Anderson Beach is Wednesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 7ft waves, a 12.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Anderson Beach works best with a W swell and E winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Anderson Beach. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Anderson Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Anderson Beach is a remote Northern California gem located along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent northwest swells wrap into the cove to produce punchy, hollow beach break peaks. The beach faces roughly eastward in orientation relative to the transect, benefiting from offshore winds that blow from the inland hills and valleys, cleaning up the faces nicely during morning glass sessions. Its isolation along this sparsely populated stretch of the Northern California coast means crowds are rarely an issue, rewarding those willing to make the journey with uncrowded waves.
The prime season at Anderson Beach is winter, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Anderson Beach include cold water, strong currents, sharks, rocky shoreline, rip tides, remote location with limited access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Anderson Beach forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable. Extended forecasts show general trends. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
