Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Poor. Patience pays off today — morning is poor with 4-5ft. Size picks up through the day, hitting 6-7ft with poor conditions by late afternoon.
Sun, May 17: 8–9ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 8-9ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and moderate NNW wind around 9mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Mon, May 18: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 6-7ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the NE. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 13mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Tue, May 19: 6–7ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 9s with light winds out of the NE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 7–8ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 7-8ft on WNW swell at 13s with light winds out of the NE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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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 4-5ft with a 13.8s swell period. Wind is N at 6mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Usal Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 4.8ft WNW primary swell at 7s, a 3ft WNW secondary swell at 14s, a 1.4ft SSW tertiary swell at 14s. 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 7 AM to 10 AM with 8ft waves, a 12.55s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
