Santa Cruz County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Scott Creek, Santa Cruz County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Mon, May 25: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 14s and light NW winds.
Tue, May 26: 5–5ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 13s with strong NNW wind at 13mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 22mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 27: 9–9ft, 13s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 9ft waves, light winds out of the NNW, fair conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Thu, May 28: 5–5ft, 20s period, rated Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 6ft with glassy conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Fri, May 29: 6–6ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6ft waves on WNW swell at 16s with barely a breath of wind. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
Takes 10 seconds with Google or Apple.
Scott Creek is a remote North Coast beach break tucked between headlands about fourteen miles north of Santa Cruz. It picks up any W to NW swell and can produce hollow, playful peaks at the creek-mouth sandbar, but exposure to NW wind and a notoriously sharky reputation keep crowds thin. Best on a clean morning after a solid swell fills in.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Scott Creek is 2-3ft with a 14.35s swell period. Wind is NNW at 6mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Scott Creek is 2-3ft, produced by a 2.1ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 1.7ft WNW secondary swell at 9s, a 1.6ft SSW 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 Scott Creek is Wednesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 9ft waves, a 12.85s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Scott Creek works best with a WNW swell and NE 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 Scott Creek. 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.
Scott Creek is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Scott Creek is a remote North Coast beach break tucked between headlands about fourteen miles north of Santa Cruz. It picks up any W to NW swell and can produce hollow, playful peaks at the creek-mouth sandbar, but exposure to NW wind and a notoriously sharky reputation keep crowds thin. Best on a clean morning after a solid swell fills in.
The prime season at Scott Creek 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 Scott Creek include rip currents, cold water, sharks, strong winds, limited access. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Scott Creek 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.
