Northern California
Early morning is your best window — 2-3+ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with 7mph S winds.
Early morning is your best window — 2-3+ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with 7mph S winds.
Best window·Friday 5PM–8PM·3-4ft·Fair
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3+ft on WNW swell at 9s with moderate S wind around 7mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor.
Fri, Sep 4: 3–4+ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 3-4+ft on WNW swell at 10s.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with light winds out of the ENE.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 8s and calm winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 6mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NW swell at 8s with light E winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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 Klamath River turns Good.
Check Klamath River from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 2-3+ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is SSW at 8mph. 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 2-3+ft, produced by a 5.7ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 2.3ft SW wind swell swell at 6s, a 0.8ft SW 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 Klamath River is Friday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.6s swell period, and conditions rated 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. 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).
