Swell Intel

South Beach Surf Forecast, Northern California

Northern California

Tolowa Dunes State Park1-2ftWilson Creek Beach1-2ftKlamath River1-2ft
South Beach surf spot

Current Conditions

Poor
Wave Height
1-2ft
ankle to knee high
Swell Period
14.2s
Wind
4mph
SSW / Gusts 7mph
Conditions
Poor
Active Swells
Primary
2.0ft @ 8sNW
Secondary
1.2ft @ 13sWNW
Tertiary
0.7ft @ 12sSW

Daily Forecast

3 of 5 days
Tue, Mar 311-2ft
Poor
6am9am12pm3pm
Wed, Apr 12-3ft
Poor

Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and poor conditions with moderate SSW wind around 8mph. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
7s WNW|8-19mph S
Thu, Apr 26-7ft
Poor - Fair

Patience pays off today — morning is poor - fair with 5-6ft. Winds back off through the day and conditions clean up to fair by PM.

6am9am12pm3pm
11s W|4-10mph W
Sign up to unlockFree — no credit card
Sat

Forecast Charts

South Beach Surf Spot Guide

Break
Beach
Bottom
Sand
Level
Intermediate
Crowd
Light
Best Swell
SW
Best Wind
NE
Season
Fall

South Beach in Del Norte County is a remote beach break near Crescent City that faces southwest, picking up SW swells from Pacific storms. The sandy bottom produces fun peaks when conditions align, but the remote location, frigid water, and powerful NorCal surf conditions demand intermediate-level experience at minimum. Not a place for beginners given the isolation and environmental hazards.

Cold waterStrong currentsSharksIsolationPowerful shorebreak

Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.

South Beach Surf Forecast FAQ

What is the current surf forecast for South Beach?
The current wave height at South Beach is 1-2ft with a 14.2s swell period. Wind is SSW at 4mph. Conditions are rated Poor.
How accurate is the South Beach surf forecast?
Our South 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.
What is the breaking wave height at South Beach?
The current breaking wave height at South Beach is 1-2ft, produced by a 2ft NW primary swell at 8s, a 1.2ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 12s. 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.
When is the best time to surf South Beach?
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf South Beach is Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 7ft waves, a 11.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.