Santa Cruz County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Waddell Creek, Santa Cruz County, California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Fri, Apr 10: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Sat, Apr 11: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SW swell at 7s with gentle SW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Sun, Apr 12: 12–13ft, 11s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 12-13ft with 13mph out of the WSW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Mon, Apr 13: 5–6ft, 10s period, rated Very Good. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on W swell at 10s with light NE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Tue, Apr 14: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair - Good. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WSW swell at 11s with gentle NNW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 11mph from the WNW and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Dawn patrol is the move — 3-4ft on WSW swell at 8s with light winds out of the SSW. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 10mph from the S and dropping conditions to poor - fair.
Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on SW swell at 7s with gentle SW breeze. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 14mph from the SSW and dropping conditions to poor.
Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 12-13ft with 13mph out of the WSW. Morning is a bit bumpy but things clean up by late morning.
Waddell Creek is an exposed beach break at the creek mouth where Highway 1 meets the coast, best known for relentless afternoon NW wind that has made it a legendary kite- and windsurfing spot. Mornings can deliver punchy, cold peaks that handle plenty of size from NW swells, while the creek-mouth sandbar shifts throughout the year and produces both lefts and rights.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Waddell Creek is 2-3ft with a 15.45s swell period. Wind is S at 4mph and conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Waddell Creek is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.9ft W primary swell at 8s, a 1.4ft S secondary swell at 12s, a 1.3ft WNW 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 Waddell Creek is Monday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 9.75s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Waddell Creek works best with a WNW 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 Waddell Creek. 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.
Waddell Creek is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Waddell Creek is an exposed beach break at the creek mouth where Highway 1 meets the coast, best known for relentless afternoon NW wind that has made it a legendary kite- and windsurfing spot. Mornings can deliver punchy, cold peaks that handle plenty of size from NW swells, while the creek-mouth sandbar shifts throughout the year and produces both lefts and rights.
The prime season at Waddell Creek 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 Waddell Creek include strong winds, rip currents, cold water, sharks, kiteboarding traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Waddell Creek 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.
