Northern California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Russian Gulch, 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: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on NW swell at 9s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 20mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 3–4ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 10s with 12mph N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 17mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 10s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on NW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to very poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 8s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on NW swell at 7s with calm winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 8mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 2-3ft waves and poor - fair conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
Russian Gulch is a sheltered cove beach break along the Mendocino coast that offers some protection from larger winter swells while still capturing quality fall and spring groundswell. The sandy bottom and cove geography create more forgiving conditions than the exposed coast, making it one of the mellower spots in the Mendocino area. Still requires NorCal cold water confidence and awareness of currents.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Russian Gulch is 3-4ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 15mph and conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Russian Gulch is 3-4ft, produced by a 7.9ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.6ft 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 Russian Gulch is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Russian Gulch works best with a W 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 Russian Gulch. 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.
Russian Gulch is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Russian Gulch is a sheltered cove beach break along the Mendocino coast that offers some protection from larger winter swells while still capturing quality fall and spring groundswell. The sandy bottom and cove geography create more forgiving conditions than the exposed coast, making it one of the mellower spots in the Mendocino area. Still requires NorCal cold water confidence and awareness of currents.
The prime season at Russian Gulch 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 Russian Gulch include cold water, rip currents, rocks at cove edges, sharks. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Russian Gulch 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.
