Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at South Beach, 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: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair - Good. Expect 4-5ft all day on W swell at 11s with moderate N wind around 11mph — nothing amazing but surfable.
Mon, May 11: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft waves early on WNW swell at 11s.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on W swell at 11s and light SSE winds.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft all day on W swell at 11s with gentle SSE breeze — nothing amazing but surfable.
Thu, May 14: 3–4ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on W swell at 10s with barely a breath of wind. The WSW wind kicks in by afternoon — 7mph and poor - fair by then.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
South Beach in Del Norte County is a remote beach break near Crescent City that faces southwest, picking up SW swells from Pacific storms. The sandy bottom produces fun peaks when conditions align, but the remote location, frigid water, and powerful NorCal surf conditions demand intermediate-level experience at minimum. Not a place for beginners given the isolation and environmental hazards.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at South Beach is 4-5ft with a 10.5s swell period. Wind is NNW at 11mph and conditions are rated Fair - Good. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at South Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 3.7ft W primary swell at 11s, a 0.8ft WSW secondary swell at 16s, a 0.7ft SW tertiary swell at 18s, a 2.3ft NW wind swell swell at 5s. 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 South Beach is Sunday from 5 PM to 8 PM with 4ft waves, a 10.8s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
South Beach works best with a SW swell and NE 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 South 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.
South Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. South Beach in Del Norte County is a remote beach break near Crescent City that faces southwest, picking up SW swells from Pacific storms. The sandy bottom produces fun peaks when conditions align, but the remote location, frigid water, and powerful NorCal surf conditions demand intermediate-level experience at minimum. Not a place for beginners given the isolation and environmental hazards.
The prime season at South 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 South Beach include cold water, strong currents, sharks, isolation, powerful shorebreak. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our South 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.
