Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Little River State Beach, 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. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 7s and 7mph N winds. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and poor by then.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 8-9ft waves on WNW swell at 12s and 12mph from the N. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 19mph from the N and dropping conditions to poor.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on NW swell at 8s with light ENE winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 14mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on NW swell at 8s with light ENE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 8s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
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Little River State Beach sits along the rugged Northern California coastline near Eureka, where the Little River meets the Pacific at around 41°N latitude. This beach break offers punchy, powerful waves shaped by the consistent Northwest swells that roll down from the North Pacific, producing short but hollow peaks along a scenic stretch of dark sand. The remote character of this Northern California gem means crowds are rarely an issue, though the cold water, powerful surf, and unpredictable conditions demand respect and experience.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Little River State Beach is 3-4ft with a 13.6s swell period. Wind is N at 5mph 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 Little River State Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 4.3ft NW primary swell at 7s, a 3.1ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary 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 Little River State Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 8ft waves, a 8.5s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Little River State Beach works best with a NW 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 Little River State Beach. 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.
Little River State Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Little River State Beach sits along the rugged Northern California coastline near Eureka, where the Little River meets the Pacific at around 41°N latitude. This beach break offers punchy, powerful waves shaped by the consistent Northwest swells that roll down from the North Pacific, producing short but hollow peaks along a scenic stretch of dark sand. The remote character of this Northern California gem means crowds are rarely an issue, though the cold water, powerful surf, and unpredictable conditions demand respect and experience.
The prime season at Little River State Beach 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 Little River State Beach include cold water, strong currents, river mouth currents, rip currents, shore break, sharks, isolated location, sneaker waves. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Little River State Beach 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.
