Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Usal Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Usal 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: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 2ft waves on NW swell at 9s and barely a breath of wind. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Wed, Jul 1: 2–2ft, 10s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2ft on NW swell at 10s with 7mph from the N. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2ft and mostly poor - fair with glassy conditions. Afternoon breeze fills in to 7mph.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–3ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with glassy conditions.
Sat, Jul 4: 2–2ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2-3ft and poor - fair conditions with glassy conditions.
Usal Beach is a remote, rugged stretch of Northern California coastline that offers consistent beach breaks with a raw, undeveloped character. The east-facing beach captures winter swells from the Pacific, creating shapely waves that work best during larger swell periods when the sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions. Its isolated location near the Lost Coast makes it an excellent destination for surfers seeking solitude and uncrowded waves away from the busier Humboldt County breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Usal Beach is 2ft with a 9.4s swell period. Wind is N at 8mph 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 Usal Beach is 2ft, produced by a 6.6ft NW primary swell at 9s, a 1.2ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft 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 Usal Beach is Wednesday from 3 PM to 6 PM with 2ft waves, a 9.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Usal 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 Usal 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.
Usal Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Usal Beach is a remote, rugged stretch of Northern California coastline that offers consistent beach breaks with a raw, undeveloped character. The east-facing beach captures winter swells from the Pacific, creating shapely waves that work best during larger swell periods when the sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions. Its isolated location near the Lost Coast makes it an excellent destination for surfers seeking solitude and uncrowded waves away from the busier Humboldt County breaks.
The prime season at Usal Beach is winter, 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 Usal Beach include rip currents, rocky outcrops, remote location with limited access, strong winter swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Usal 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.
