Northern California
Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4ft and poor - fair early on.
Skip the dawn patrol — 3-4ft and poor - fair early on.
Best window·Thursday 10AM–1PM·3-4ft·Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wages Creek Beach, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Hold off if you can — morning starts out fair with 3-4ft waves. Afternoon shapes up better with 3-4ft and fair conditions.
Fri, Sep 4: 2–3+ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3+ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and light SE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with gentle ENE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sun, Sep 6: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Mon, Sep 7: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 5s with light ESE winds. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
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Check Wages Creek Beach from the lineup
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Wages Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Mendocino coast that picks up NW Pacific swells well. The uncrowded setting and sandy bottom make for fun peaks, but the cold water, isolation, and standard NorCal hazards require intermediate experience. A quiet gem for surfers exploring north of Fort Bragg.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wages Creek Beach is 3-4ft with a 9.2s swell period. Wind is S at 3mph. Conditions are rated Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Wages Creek Beach is 3-4ft, produced by a 5.2ft W primary swell at 9s, a 1.3ft SSW secondary swell at 12s, a 1.1ft SW tertiary swell at 17s, a 1.2ft SSW tertiary swell at 12s. 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 Wages Creek Beach is Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 3ft waves, a 9.2s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wages Creek Beach works best with a NW swell and SE 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 Wages Creek 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.
Wages Creek Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wages Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Mendocino coast that picks up NW Pacific swells well. The uncrowded setting and sandy bottom make for fun peaks, but the cold water, isolation, and standard NorCal hazards require intermediate experience. A quiet gem for surfers exploring north of Fort Bragg.
The prime season at Wages Creek 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 Wages Creek Beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, isolation, rocks at beach ends. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wages Creek 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. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
