Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Westport-Union Landing, 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, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 5-6ft and poor - fair with 17mph out of the NNW. Afternoon breeze fills in to 25mph.
Sun, May 17: 6–7ft, 9s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 6-7ft and mostly poor - fair with strong N wind at 16mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 25mph.
Mon, May 18: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and fair by then.
Tue, May 19: 5–6ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 5-6ft on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the ENE. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Wed, May 20: 4–5ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 13s with glassy conditions. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
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Westport-Union Landing is a remote beach break along the northern Mendocino coast, receiving consistent W and NW swells in an isolated, undeveloped setting. The sandy bottom can produce fun peaks, but the cold water, complete lack of safety infrastructure, and powerful NorCal conditions make this unsuitable for inexperienced surfers. A quiet escape for intermediate-plus surfers exploring the wild northern coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Westport-Union Landing is 5-6ft with a 13.8s swell period. Wind is N 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 Westport-Union Landing is 5-6ft, produced by a 2.7ft WNW primary swell at 14s, a 0.7ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.6ft SSW tertiary swell at 14s, a 4.9ft WNW wind swell swell at 7s. 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 Westport-Union Landing is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 6ft waves, a 15.35s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Westport-Union Landing 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 Westport-Union Landing. 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.
Westport-Union Landing is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Westport-Union Landing is a remote beach break along the northern Mendocino coast, receiving consistent W and NW swells in an isolated, undeveloped setting. The sandy bottom can produce fun peaks, but the cold water, complete lack of safety infrastructure, and powerful NorCal conditions make this unsuitable for inexperienced surfers. A quiet escape for intermediate-plus surfers exploring the wild northern coast.
The prime season at Westport-Union Landing 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 Westport-Union Landing include cold water, sharks, strong currents, isolation, no lifeguards. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Westport-Union Landing 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.
