Northern California
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.
Sat, May 16: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 10s and moderate NNW wind around 9mph. Onshore flow builds through the day to 25mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Get out early for the best of it — 6-7ft waves on W swell at 11s and strong N wind at 16mph. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 24mph and poor by then.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with light ENE winds. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5-6ft waves on NW swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 10s with glassy conditions. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
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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 5-6ft with a 13.45s swell period. Wind is NNW at 17mph 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 Wages Creek Beach is 5-6ft, produced by a 4.7ft WNW primary swell at 7s, a 2.8ft WNW secondary swell at 13s, a 0.9ft SW 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 Wages Creek Beach is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 14.7s swell period, and conditions rated Very 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
