Northern California
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Pudding Creek Beach for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Pudding 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.
Wed, Jun 24: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds.
Thu, Jun 25: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on NW swell at 7s with light NE winds. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jun 26: 1–2ft, 15s 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 10mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 1–2ft, 15s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 17mph out of the NW. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 24mph.
Sun, Jun 28: 2–2ft, 10s period, rated Very Poor. Early morning is your best window — 1-2ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light winds out of the N. The NW wind kicks in by afternoon — 30mph and very poor by then.
Pudding Creek Beach is a raw and scenic surf spot on the Northern California coast near Fort Bragg, where Pudding Creek meets the Pacific and sculpts shifting sandbars that can produce surprisingly fun, punchy waves. The beach faces west and picks up powerful northwest groundswells that dominate this stretch of the Mendocino coastline, delivering hollow, fast-breaking waves that reward surfers who know how to read unpredictable sand bottom setups. Its remote feel and rugged Northern California beauty keep crowds minimal, making it a rewarding discovery for adventurous surfers willing to handle the cold water and moody conditions.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Pudding Creek Beach is 1ft with a 6.15s swell period. Wind is WNW at 3mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Pudding Creek Beach is 1ft, produced by a 3ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.8ft SW tertiary swell at 18s. 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 Pudding Creek Beach is Thursday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 6.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Pudding Creek Beach works best with a NW 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 Pudding 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.
Pudding Creek Beach is a rivermouth with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Pudding Creek Beach is a raw and scenic surf spot on the Northern California coast near Fort Bragg, where Pudding Creek meets the Pacific and sculpts shifting sandbars that can produce surprisingly fun, punchy waves. The beach faces west and picks up powerful northwest groundswells that dominate this stretch of the Mendocino coastline, delivering hollow, fast-breaking waves that reward surfers who know how to read unpredictable sand bottom setups. Its remote feel and rugged Northern California beauty keep crowds minimal, making it a rewarding discovery for adventurous surfers willing to handle the cold water and moody conditions.
The prime season at Pudding 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 Pudding Creek Beach include cold water, strong currents, rip currents near creek mouth, shifting sandbars, rocks near creek outlet, shore break, sharks, kelp. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Pudding 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
