Northern California
Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6+ft on WNW swell at 9s with 9mph SW winds.
Dawn patrol is the move — 4-6+ft on WNW swell at 9s with 9mph SW winds.
Best window·Friday 6AM–9AM·7-8ft·Good
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 7–8ft, 11s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 4-6+ft on WNW swell at 9s with 9mph SW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Fri, Sep 4: 7–8ft, 11s period, rated Good. Get out early for the best of it — 7-8ft waves on NW swell at 10s and 8mph from the SSW. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 4–5ft, 9s period, rated Good. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light E winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Sun, Sep 6: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 9s with light SSE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 8s with light NE winds. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 8mph and poor by then.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Poor - Fair today — get one free email when Eureka turns Good.
Check Eureka from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 4-6+ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is SW at 14mph. 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 Eureka is 4-6+ft, produced by a 6.1ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 10.5s swell period, and conditions rated 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
