Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Klamath River for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Klamath River, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with calm winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 17mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 9mph NNW winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 9mph by PM.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor. Skip the dawn patrol — 1-2ft and poor early on. Things come together by the afternoon with 2ft at poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 1-2ft waves, light winds out of the W, poor - fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
The Klamath River mouth is a regional classic that can produce long, barreling rides of 150-300 meters when sandbars align with incoming NW swell. The constantly shifting sandbars from the river outflow create unpredictable but rewarding conditions for experienced surfers. However, the salmon runs attract seals, which attract great white sharks — multiple shark attacks have been documented here, making it one of the higher-risk spots on the California coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Klamath River is 1-2ft with a 8.55s swell period. Wind is NNW at 15mph 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 Klamath River is 1-2ft, produced by a 7ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.5ft SW tertiary swell at 19s. 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 Klamath River is Tuesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 2ft waves, a 8.55s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Klamath River 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 Klamath River. 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.
Klamath River is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to advanced surfers. The Klamath River mouth is a regional classic that can produce long, barreling rides of 150-300 meters when sandbars align with incoming NW swell. The constantly shifting sandbars from the river outflow create unpredictable but rewarding conditions for experienced surfers. However, the salmon runs attract seals, which attract great white sharks — multiple shark attacks have been documented here, making it one of the higher-risk spots on the California coast.
The prime season at Klamath River 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 Klamath River include great white sharks, strong currents, shifting sandbars, cold water, isolation, river debris. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Klamath River 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
