Northern California
Best window·Wednesday 11AM–2PM·6ft·Fair
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.
Tue, Jun 30: 7–8ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 6-7ft waves on NW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 22mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 6-7ft waves, 11mph N winds, fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up.
Thu, Jul 2: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on NW swell at 9s with light NNW winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 3-4ft and poor - fair conditions with gentle NNW breeze.
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 5-7ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 12mph 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 5-7ft, produced by a 8.2ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 0.8ft 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 Pudding Creek Beach is Wednesday from 11 AM to 2 PM with 6ft waves, a 9.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
