Santa Cruz County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Mavericks, 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.
Mon, May 25: 1–2ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 1-2ft waves on W swell at 14s and gentle SW breeze.
Tue, May 26: 5–5ft, 16s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on SW swell at 16s with strong NNW wind at 20mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 26mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 27: 8–8ft, 14s period, rated Poor - Fair. Late morning into early afternoon looks best — 8ft with glassy conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Thu, May 28: 5–5ft, 21s period, rated Fair. Steady 5ft waves on offer on WNW swell at 10s — gentle SW breeze.
Fri, May 29: 5–5ft, 16s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 5ft waves on W swell at 16s with light winds out of the W. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
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Mavericks is one of the most dangerous big-wave spots on the planet, a right-hand reef off Pillar Point that only turns on for serious W to NW swells with long periods (17+ seconds). The wave throws over a jagged reef into extreme cold water shared by white sharks, and a successful session typically requires a jet-ski, a safety crew, and years of big-wave experience. Strictly for verified big-wave surfers.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Mavericks is 2-3ft with a 14.8s swell period. Wind is W at 5mph 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 Mavericks is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.7ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 15s, a 1.5ft W 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 Mavericks is Wednesday from 10 AM to 1 PM with 8ft waves, a 12.9s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Mavericks works best with a WNW 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 Mavericks. 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.
Mavericks is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Mavericks is one of the most dangerous big-wave spots on the planet, a right-hand reef off Pillar Point that only turns on for serious W to NW swells with long periods (17+ seconds). The wave throws over a jagged reef into extreme cold water shared by white sharks, and a successful session typically requires a jet-ski, a safety crew, and years of big-wave experience. Strictly for verified big-wave surfers.
The prime season at Mavericks 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 Mavericks include huge surf, shallow reef, cold water, strong currents, sharks, jet-ski traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Mavericks 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.
