
Surf Forecasts:
Chadbourne Gulch surf forecast from 14 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-onshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 14 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 8s period, NW swell with 1,087 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period with NW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Chadbourne Gulch this week:
The surf forecast for Chadbourne Gulch over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.9m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 19s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chadbourne Gulch in the next 16 days are 3.0m 8s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Sep 14) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 2s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 13th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Mon 14th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chadbourne Gulch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's cookin' at Chadbourne Gulch over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, it's a bit of a mixed bag. We've got some serious size coming through at times, but the wind and conditions are gonna make you work for it. The water's sitting at 59°, which is pretty much spot on for this time of year.
We kick off this Sunday afternoon with a cross-on breeze out of the NW at 12 mph and a 5 ft NW swell. It's gonna be choppy, so don't expect much. Monday morning is similar but lighter wind with a 6 ft swell, still cross-on and only marginal. Monday afternoon though, things get heavy. The swell jumps to a solid 10 ft from the NW, and even though the wind is light, it's cross-on and the energy is pumping. That's expert territory – way too much power for most of us, so unless you're really savvy, give it a miss.
Tuesday morning (15th) sees the swell drop back to 6 ft with a light west wind going offshore. That's the first glimmer of hope. It's still a bit questionable on the tide, but it's better. Tuesday afternoon has similar vibes, 7 ft but with a bit of cloud and a light cross-on breeze. Wednesday continues the trend with 6 ft to 7 ft, but the wind stays cross-on.
Now, Thursday the 17th afternoon is interesting. The swell drops right off to 2 ft, but it swings to the SSW with a very long 16-second period and glassy conditions. The combined energy is still moderate, but that period is beautiful. You'll be waiting for sets, but if you get one, it'll be a clean, long wall.
From Friday the 18th right through to Sunday the 21st, we are in a lull. The swell is tiny, 2 ft to 3 ft, from the SW with those long periods (17-19 seconds). It's not breaking with any power on this beach setup, and the wind is mostly cross-on or offshore light. It's a quiet spell.
Then comes Monday the 21st afternoon – hang on. An 8 ft NW swell rolls in with the wind going glassy and calm. The note says excellent for experienced surfers, and they're right. That's a lot of water moving, but with that glassy surface it'll be clean for those who can handle it.
Tuesday the 22nd keeps the size at 8 ft to 8 ft from the NW, but the wind is back on or cross-on, so it's gonna be bumpy. Wednesday the 23rd afternoon is another standout though. 8 ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the wind goes completely glassy. That's a proper afternoon session for the experienced crew.
Thursday the 24th afternoon gets huge again – 10 ft from the NW, glassy winds, but it's flagged as too big for this break. That's a hard pass. Friday the 25th sees a drop back to 7 ft from the NW, offshore wind in the morning, but the energy is dropping.
The last few days from the 26th to the 28th are a write-off. The wind picks up strong, 16-22 mph from the NW, making it choppy and lumpy. Even when there's size on the 28th (10 ft), it's just a mess. This setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing those last few days.
So, if I had to pick the best on offer, it's a tie between Monday the 21st afternoon and Wednesday the 23rd afternoon. Both have solid NW swell and glassy conditions – that's the clean, powerful stuff you want. The rest is a waiting game or for the die-hards.
Rusty out.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Mon afternoon, min 13°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Thu morning, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
437 | 625 | 473 | 1087 | 458 | 373 | 542 | 470 | 435 | 504 | 266 | 250 | 198 | 130 | 303 | 303 | 236 | 255 | 375 | 375 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 1:58AM1.47m | 1:46PM1.77m | 2:55AM1.34m | 2:19PM1.72m | 4:00AM1.23m | 2:56PM1.65m | 5:23AM1.16m | 3:42PM1.58m | 7:02AM1.15m | 4:42PM1.52m | 8:22AM1.19m | 5:56PM1.50m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:32PM0.15m | 7:21AM0.53m | 8:20PM0.15m | 7:54AM0.69m | 9:11PM0.17m | 8:29AM0.84m | 10:09PM0.22m | 9:10AM0.95m | 11:16PM0.25m | 10:13AM1.03m | 00:27AM0.25m | 11:46AM1.05m | 1:32AM0.23m | |||||||
— | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | |
7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:23 | — | — | 7:22 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:19 | — | — | 7:16 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 |
Feels °C | 15 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 13 | NW 9 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | NW 8 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 5 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 |
180 | 449 | 84 | 106 | 106 | 373 | 122 | 87 | 121 | 403 | 266 | 250 | 171 | 109 | 120 | 120 | 34 | 255 | 375 | 375 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 19 | SSW 13 | SW 17 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 16 | NW 13 | NW 12 | S 19 | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | S 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
57 | 116 | 107 | 82 | 39 | 133 | 44 | 37 | 118 | 243 | 104 | 137 | 198 | 130 | 303 | 303 | 55 | 24 | 60 | 58 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 11 | SW 19 | S 9 | WNW 15 | WNW 14 | WNW 13 | SW 12 | SSW 20 | NW 12 | NW 11 | SW 14 | SW 21 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 13 | S 10 | NW 9 |
12 | 127 | 2 | 84 | 20 | 69 | 23 | 75 | 37 | 33 | 72 | 160 | 40 | 37 | 167 | 120 | 236 | 60 | 31 | 19 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | SSE 2 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 |
437 | 625 | 473 | 1087 | 458 | — | 542 | 470 | 435 | 504 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 68 | 75 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 306 | 0 | 190 | 332 | 0 | 141 | 50 | 25 | 190 | 157 | 0 | 70 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 50 | 0 | 190 | 244 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Mendocino County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Chadbourne Gulch Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Chadbourne Gulch provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Chadbourne Gulch can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Chadbourne Gulch surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Chadbourne Gulch) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Chadbourne Gulch may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Chadbourne Gulch is 71 km (44 miles) from Ukiah. If you plan a vacation in Mendocino County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Ukiah. Ukiah has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.










