Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pudding Creek 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: 8–9ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 13s with strong N wind at 22mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 33mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 11–12ft, 9s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 10-11ft on NW swell at 9s with 26mph out of the N. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 33mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 7-8ft on NW swell at 9s with light N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 23mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 6-7ft on NW swell at 9s with gentle NNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 16mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Wed, May 20: 6–7ft, 13s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on NW swell at 9s with light NNW winds. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 10mph and poor - fair by then.
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Pudding Creek Beach is a raw and scenic surf spot on the Northern California coast near Fort Bragg, where Pudding Creek meets the Pacific and sculpts shifting sandbars that can produce surprisingly fun, punchy waves. The beach faces west and picks up powerful northwest groundswells that dominate this stretch of the Mendocino coastline, delivering hollow, fast-breaking waves that reward surfers who know how to read unpredictable sand bottom setups. Its remote feel and rugged Northern California beauty keep crowds minimal, making it a rewarding discovery for adventurous surfers willing to handle the cold water and moody conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pudding Creek Beach is 5-6ft with a 13.4s swell period. Wind is N at 22mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Pudding Creek Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 3.1ft WNW primary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 15s, a 6.2ft NW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Pudding Creek Beach is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 7ft waves, a 9.15s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pudding Creek 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 Pudding Creek 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.
Pudding Creek Beach is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Pudding Creek Beach is a raw and scenic surf spot on the Northern California coast near Fort Bragg, where Pudding Creek meets the Pacific and sculpts shifting sandbars that can produce surprisingly fun, punchy waves. The beach faces west and picks up powerful northwest groundswells that dominate this stretch of the Mendocino coastline, delivering hollow, fast-breaking waves that reward surfers who know how to read unpredictable sand bottom setups. Its remote feel and rugged Northern California beauty keep crowds minimal, making it a rewarding discovery for adventurous surfers willing to handle the cold water and moody conditions.
The prime season at Pudding Creek 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 Pudding Creek Beach include cold water, strong currents, rip currents near creek mouth, shifting sandbars, rocks near creek outlet, shore break, sharks, kelp. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pudding Creek 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.
