Santa Cruz County, California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Waddell Creek, 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: 2–3ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Rideable all day with 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 14s and light N winds.
Tue, May 26: 5–5ft, 16s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 3-4ft on W swell at 13s with 11mph NNW winds. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 20mph from the NNW and dropping conditions to poor.
Wed, May 27: 9–9ft, 14s period, rated Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 9ft waves on WNW swell at 13s and light WNW winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Thu, May 28: 5–5ft, 20s period, rated Fair. The sweet spot is around midday — 6ft waves, barely a breath of wind, very good conditions. It's a bit wonky first thing but settles down.
Fri, May 29: 6–6ft, 16s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 6ft waves on WNW swell at 16s with light winds out of the NNW. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 13mph and poor - fair by then.
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Waddell Creek is an exposed beach break at the creek mouth where Highway 1 meets the coast, best known for relentless afternoon NW wind that has made it a legendary kite- and windsurfing spot. Mornings can deliver punchy, cold peaks that handle plenty of size from NW swells, while the creek-mouth sandbar shifts throughout the year and produces both lefts and rights.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Waddell Creek is 2-3ft with a 15.1s swell period. Wind is N 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 Waddell Creek is 2-3ft, produced by a 1.9ft WNW primary swell at 9s, a 1.7ft WNW secondary swell at 15s, a 1.6ft SSW 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 Waddell Creek is Thursday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 6ft waves, a 20.25s swell period, and conditions rated Very Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Waddell Creek works best with a WNW 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 Waddell Creek. 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.
Waddell Creek is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Waddell Creek is an exposed beach break at the creek mouth where Highway 1 meets the coast, best known for relentless afternoon NW wind that has made it a legendary kite- and windsurfing spot. Mornings can deliver punchy, cold peaks that handle plenty of size from NW swells, while the creek-mouth sandbar shifts throughout the year and produces both lefts and rights.
The prime season at Waddell Creek 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 Waddell Creek include strong winds, rip currents, cold water, sharks, kiteboarding traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Waddell Creek 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.
