Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at DeHaven Creek, 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: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 5-6ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 17mph NNW winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 25mph.
Sun, May 17: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 7-8ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 16mph N winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 25mph.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light ENE winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to fair.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and light winds out of the ENE. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 13s and barely a breath of wind. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
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DeHaven Creek is a sheltered rivermouth break along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent winter swells wrap into the creek mouth and create peeling waves over sandy bottom. The protected nature of the creek and surrounding cliffs provides natural wind protection, making it ideal during strong offshore wind patterns. This lesser-known gem offers a more peaceful alternative to exposed coastal breaks, with mellower waves suitable for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded lineups.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at DeHaven Creek is 5-6ft with a 13.8s swell period. Wind is N at 17mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at DeHaven Creek is 5-6ft, produced by a 2.7ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.6ft SSW tertiary swell at 14s, a 4.9ft WNW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 DeHaven Creek is Tuesday from 7 AM to 10 AM with 6ft waves, a 15.2s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
DeHaven Creek works best with a NW swell and SE 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 DeHaven Creek. 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.
DeHaven Creek is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. DeHaven Creek is a sheltered rivermouth break along the rugged Mendocino County coastline, where consistent winter swells wrap into the creek mouth and create peeling waves over sandy bottom. The protected nature of the creek and surrounding cliffs provides natural wind protection, making it ideal during strong offshore wind patterns. This lesser-known gem offers a more peaceful alternative to exposed coastal breaks, with mellower waves suitable for intermediate surfers seeking uncrowded lineups.
The prime season at DeHaven Creek 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 DeHaven Creek include rip currents, rocks near creek mouth, changing sandbars, occasional logs. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our DeHaven Creek 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.
