Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Eureka, 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: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 6-7ft and poor with strong NNE wind at 16mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 24mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 7-8ft and poor with 26mph N winds.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Tue, May 19: 7–8ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 8-9ft on WNW swell at 15s with barely a breath of wind. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 20: 7–8ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 8-9ft on WNW swell at 13s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
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Eureka's beach breaks offer the most accessible surf near Humboldt Bay, with sandy bottoms and relatively consistent peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the standard NorCal conditions — frigid 52°F water, sharks, and strong currents — make this intermediate territory. One of the more approachable spots in the Eureka area for experienced surfers visiting the region.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Eureka is 5-7ft with a 13.6s swell period. Wind is NNE at 13mph 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 Eureka is 5-7ft, produced by a 6ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 1.2ft SW secondary swell at 15s. 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 Eureka is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 9ft waves, a 15.15s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Eureka 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 Eureka. 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.
Eureka is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Eureka's beach breaks offer the most accessible surf near Humboldt Bay, with sandy bottoms and relatively consistent peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the standard NorCal conditions — frigid 52°F water, sharks, and strong currents — make this intermediate territory. One of the more approachable spots in the Eureka area for experienced surfers visiting the region.
The prime season at Eureka is fall, 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 Eureka include cold water, sharks, strong currents, fog, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Eureka 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.
