Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at South 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: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Consistent 3-4ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 8s with light NNE winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 19mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 3–4ft, 13s period, rated Fair - Good. Consistent 3-4ft surf through the day on WNW swell at 12s with gentle NNE breeze. Afternoon breeze fills in to 19mph.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 2-3ft waves, gentle N breeze, fair conditions. Early on is a little rough — give it until mid-morning to shape up. Sea breeze fills back in by mid-afternoon so get on it early.
Tue, May 19: 3–4ft, 17s period, rated Poor - Fair. Midday is the call — 3-4ft waves with gentle NNW breeze and good conditions. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning. Don't wait too long — the wind comes back up after lunch.
Wed, May 20: 3–4ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 8s with light winds out of the NE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 9mph from the NW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
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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.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at South Beach is 3-4ft with a 13.6s swell period. Wind is NE at 4mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at South Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 3.3ft WNW primary swell at 8s, a 2.9ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 1ft SW 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 South Beach is Tuesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 4ft waves, a 14.45s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
South Beach works best with a SW 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 South 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.
South Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. 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.
The prime season at South 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 South Beach include cold water, strong currents, sharks, isolation, powerful shorebreak. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
