Northern California
Best window·Friday 9AM–12PM·3ft·Fair
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Usal 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: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 6s and barely a breath of wind.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 7s and light winds out of the NNW. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jun 26: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Fair. Expect 3-4ft all day on WSW swell at 8s with calm winds — nothing amazing but surfable. Afternoon breeze fills in to 8mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 9s with light N winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 14mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Sun, Jun 28: 3–4ft, 9s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 2-3ft on WNW swell at 9s with light NNE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 16mph, bringing conditions down to very poor.
Usal Beach is a remote, rugged stretch of Northern California coastline that offers consistent beach breaks with a raw, undeveloped character. The east-facing beach captures winter swells from the Pacific, creating shapely waves that work best during larger swell periods when the sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions. Its isolated location near the Lost Coast makes it an excellent destination for surfers seeking solitude and uncrowded waves away from the busier Humboldt County breaks.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Usal Beach is 2-3+ft with a 17.65s swell period. Wind is WSW 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 Usal Beach is 2-3+ft, produced by a 2.9ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1.6ft SSW secondary swell at 14s, a 1.3ft SSW 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 Usal Beach is Friday from 9 AM to 12 PM with 3ft waves, a 14.8s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Usal Beach 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 Usal 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.
Usal Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Usal Beach is a remote, rugged stretch of Northern California coastline that offers consistent beach breaks with a raw, undeveloped character. The east-facing beach captures winter swells from the Pacific, creating shapely waves that work best during larger swell periods when the sandy bottom provides forgiving conditions. Its isolated location near the Lost Coast makes it an excellent destination for surfers seeking solitude and uncrowded waves away from the busier Humboldt County breaks.
The prime season at Usal Beach 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 Usal Beach include rip currents, rocky outcrops, remote location with limited access, strong winter swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Usal 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.
