Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Eureka, Northern California. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sun, May 10: 5–6ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Hold off if you can — morning starts out poor - fair with 5-6ft waves. Afternoon shapes up better with 5-6ft and poor conditions.
Mon, May 11: 5–6ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 5-6ft waves on WNW swell at 9s and glassy conditions. The N wind kicks in by afternoon — 11mph and poor - fair by then.
Tue, May 12: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on WNW swell at 11s and glassy conditions. The NNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and fair by then.
Wed, May 13: 5–6ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s with gentle S breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 10s and barely a breath of wind. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Eureka's beach breaks offer the most accessible surf near Humboldt Bay, with sandy bottoms and relatively consistent peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the standard NorCal conditions — frigid 52°F water, sharks, and strong currents — make this intermediate territory. One of the more approachable spots in the Eureka area for experienced surfers visiting the region.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Eureka is 5-6ft with a 11.6s swell period. Wind is N at 13mph 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 Eureka is 5-6ft, produced by a 4.1ft W primary swell at 12s, a 0.9ft SW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.9ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 3.3ft NNW wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Eureka is Wednesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 5ft waves, a 11.05s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Eureka 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 Eureka. 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.
Eureka is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Eureka's beach breaks offer the most accessible surf near Humboldt Bay, with sandy bottoms and relatively consistent peaks from W and NW swells. While the waves can be mellow, the standard NorCal conditions — frigid 52°F water, sharks, and strong currents — make this intermediate territory. One of the more approachable spots in the Eureka area for experienced surfers visiting the region.
The prime season at Eureka 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 Eureka include cold water, sharks, strong currents, fog, rip currents. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Eureka 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.
