Northern California
Best window·Thursday 6AM–9AM·5ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Ten Mile 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. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on NW swell at 9s with calm winds. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 17mph and very poor by then.
Wed, Jul 1: 7–8ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 7-8ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 11mph NNW winds.
Thu, Jul 2: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Consistent 5-6ft surf through the day on NW swell at 9s with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 3–4ft, 8s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on NW swell at 7s with calm winds. The W wind kicks in by afternoon — 6mph and poor - fair by then.
Sat, Jul 4: 4–5ft, 7s period, rated Poor - Fair. Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4ft and poor - fair early on. Later in the day looks more promising — 4-5ft and fair.
Ten Mile Beach stretches for miles along the Mendocino coast north of Fort Bragg, offering consistent beach break peaks across a vast, empty sandy shoreline. The open W and NW swell exposure means waves are powerful and plentiful, but the remote setting, cold water, and lack of safety infrastructure require intermediate-level competence. One of the longest continuous surf beaches in NorCal.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Ten Mile Beach is 6-8ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 11mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Ten Mile Beach is 6-8ft, 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 Ten Mile Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 8.65s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Ten Mile Beach 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 Ten Mile 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.
Ten Mile Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Ten Mile Beach stretches for miles along the Mendocino coast north of Fort Bragg, offering consistent beach break peaks across a vast, empty sandy shoreline. The open W and NW swell exposure means waves are powerful and plentiful, but the remote setting, cold water, and lack of safety infrastructure require intermediate-level competence. One of the longest continuous surf beaches in NorCal.
The prime season at Ten Mile 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 Ten Mile Beach include cold water, sharks, strong currents, isolation, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Ten Mile 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.
