Northern California
Best window·Sunday 6AM–9AM·3ft·Fair - Good
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wages 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: 2–2ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2ft and poor - fair with barely a breath of wind.
Thu, Jun 25: 3–4ft, 18s period, rated Poor - Fair. Get out early for the best of it — 2-3ft waves on WNW swell at 7s and moderate NNW wind around 7mph. It gets a bit messier later in the day.
Fri, Jun 26: 2–2ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 2ft and poor - fair conditions with glassy conditions. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 8mph.
Sat, Jun 27: 3–4ft, 15s period, rated Poor - Fair. Early morning is your best window — 3-4ft waves on WNW swell at 8s with light winds out of the N. The WNW wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor - fair by then.
Sun, Jun 28: 5–6ft, 9s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on WNW swell at 9s with light NNE winds. Onshore flow builds through the day to 10mph, bringing conditions down to poor - fair.
Wages Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Mendocino coast that picks up NW Pacific swells well. The uncrowded setting and sandy bottom make for fun peaks, but the cold water, isolation, and standard NorCal hazards require intermediate experience. A quiet gem for surfers exploring north of Fort Bragg.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wages Creek Beach is 2ft with a 17.7s swell period. Wind is WNW at 4mph and conditions are rated Poor - Fair. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Wages Creek Beach is 2ft, produced by a 2.4ft WNW primary swell at 6s, a 1.2ft SW secondary swell at 14s, a 0.9ft 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 Wages Creek Beach is Sunday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 3ft waves, a 8.95s swell period, and conditions rated Fair - Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wages Creek Beach works best with a NW swell and SE 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 Wages 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.
Wages Creek Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wages Creek Beach is a remote sandy beach break on the Mendocino coast that picks up NW Pacific swells well. The uncrowded setting and sandy bottom make for fun peaks, but the cold water, isolation, and standard NorCal hazards require intermediate experience. A quiet gem for surfers exploring north of Fort Bragg.
The prime season at Wages 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 Wages Creek Beach include cold water, sharks, rip currents, isolation, rocks at beach ends. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wages 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.
