Northern California
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Wheeler 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, 12s period, rated Poor - Fair. A slow one — 4-5ft waves and poor - fair conditions with 9mph from the NNW.
Mon, May 11: 4–5ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Steady 4-5ft waves on offer on WNW swell at 11s — 7mph from the NE.
Tue, May 12: 3–4ft, 11s period, rated Fair. Steady 4-5ft waves on offer on WNW swell at 11s — barely a breath of wind.
Wed, May 13: 4–5ft, 13s period, rated Fair. First light looks cleanest — 4-5ft on W swell at 11s with light winds out of the SSE. Conditions go downhill through the afternoon.
Thu, May 14: 4–5ft, 12s period, rated Fair. Early morning is your best window — 4-5ft waves on W swell at 11s with gentle ENE breeze. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Free, simple, and takes 30 seconds.
Wheeler Beach is a remote beach break along the wild Mendocino coast, offering W swell exposure and a sandy bottom in a rugged wilderness setting. The isolation and standard NorCal hazards — cold water, sharks, strong currents — make this intermediate territory at minimum. A peaceful spot for self-sufficient surfers seeking solitude on the Lost Coast.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Wheeler Beach is 4-5ft with a 11.55s swell period. Wind is NNW at 9mph 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 Wheeler Beach is 4-5ft, produced by a 3.1ft W primary swell at 11s, a 1.7ft WNW secondary swell at 12s, a 1ft SW tertiary swell at 16s, a 4.5ft WNW wind swell swell at 6s. 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 Wheeler Beach is Wednesday from 12 PM to 3 PM with 5ft waves, a 12.6s swell period, and conditions rated Good. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Wheeler 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 Wheeler 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.
Wheeler Beach is a beach with a sand bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Wheeler Beach is a remote beach break along the wild Mendocino coast, offering W swell exposure and a sandy bottom in a rugged wilderness setting. The isolation and standard NorCal hazards — cold water, sharks, strong currents — make this intermediate territory at minimum. A peaceful spot for self-sufficient surfers seeking solitude on the Lost Coast.
The prime season at Wheeler 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 Wheeler Beach include cold water, sharks, strong currents, isolation, heavy shorebreak. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Wheeler 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.
