Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 13s with gentle N breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 19mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on W swell at 13s with 9mph from the N. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on NW swell at 8s with light ENE winds. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the ENE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 20: 5–6ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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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 4-5+ft with a 13.55s swell period. Wind is NNW at 5mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Klamath River is 4-5+ft, produced by a 4.9ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft 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 Klamath River is Sunday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 6ft waves, a 11.75s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
