Surf Forecasts:
Chadbourne Gulch surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 887 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 16s period with SW 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.6m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Chadbourne Gulch in the next 16 days are 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 2AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Chadbourne Gulch over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty, and I’m looking at the outlook for Chadbourne Gulch. Water temps are sitting right around where they should be for this time of year – nothing wild there, just what you’d expect.
Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are pretty marginal. Wednesday morning the 26th has a bit of small 2ft SW groundswell rolling in with a 16-second period, but the wind is cross-on from the WNW at 6 mph, and the combined energy is only 371—pretty weak. The afternoon and Thursday don’t look much better, with poor surf conditions and the same light cross-onshore breeze messing things up.
Friday the 28th shows a little more pulse. The morning brings 3ft SSW swell, but conditions are still marginal. The afternoon sees a jump to 6ft, but it’s a short-period NW windswell at 7 seconds, and the combined energy climbs to 867. Still, with that short period and cross-on wind, it’s not going to be pretty.
Saturday the 29th morning has the best-looking swell so far: 4ft of SSW groundswell with a very long 18-second period, and combined energy of 1412. That’s a groundswell with some serious push. The problem is the wind stays cross-on from the WNW at 6 mph. That long period means the sets will be clean and powerful, but the cross-on breeze will put a bit of texture on the face. The afternoon sees the swell drop a touch and the wind picks up to a gentle breeze, making it choppier.
Sunday the 30th morning is the first real standout. The wind shifts to onshore from the WNW, but it’s still just a light breeze at 6 mph. The swell is 4ft from the SSW with a 16-second period, and the combined energy hits 1068. This is moderate energy, and with the wind being on, the waves should be clean and lined up. The long period means it’ll be better suited for a point or reef setup, but it should still offer some fun corners at this beach. This is the best session on offer in this outlook.
The rest of the week into early September is a bit of a mixed bag. Monday the 31st has a smaller 3ft swell with onshore winds in the morning, but the energy drops to 591. It’s marginal. Tuesday the 1st of September is even smaller, with 2ft and poor conditions in the afternoon. The run from the 2nd to the 4th is a bit of a tease. Wednesday the 2nd has a 4ft NW windswell, but the period is only 9 seconds, and the energy is 495. Thursday the 3rd morning brings a 2ft SW groundswell with a very long 19-second period, and energy of 1001, but it’s still marginal. Friday the 4th morning has the biggest swell of the whole period: 7ft from the NW with a 10-second period and combined energy of 1705. That’s strong energy, but it’s a short-period windswell at 7ft, which is getting into expert-only territory, and the wind is onshore. The afternoon drops to 6ft.
After the 5th, the surf fades back to small and marginal for the rest of the second week, with SSW swells around 2ft to 4ft, and combined energy mostly under 1000. There’s a last little pulse on the 8th of September with a 2ft SSW groundswell and a very long 20-second period, but it’s marginal. Overall, the standout is Sunday the 30th morning, with a decent 4ft swell, clean conditions, and enough energy to make it fun.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Wed morning, min 13°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | ||||||||||||||
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) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | NW 7 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
206 | 203 | 201 | 183 | 134 | 171 | 219 | 347 | 352 | 398 | 887 | 742 | 627 | 724 | 525 | 405 | 394 | 321 | 207 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy | on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 10:07PM1.80m | 11:46AM1.40m | 10:46PM1.81m | 12:09PM1.47m | 11:26PM1.79m | 12:33PM1.55m | 00:06AM1.74m | 12:58PM1.62m | 00:50AM1.65m | 1:25PM1.69m | 1:38AM1.53m | 1:55PM1.75m | 2:34AM1.39m | ||||||
Low Tide | 4:58AM-0.02m | 4:35PM0.73m | 5:27AM-0.01m | 5:15PM0.63m | 5:55AM0.02m | 5:56PM0.54m | 6:24AM0.10m | 6:38PM0.44m | 6:52AM0.21m | 7:24PM0.34m | 7:22AM0.35m | 8:14PM0.26m | |||||||
— | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | |
— | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 17 | 17 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 13 |
Feels °C | 14 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | WNW 9 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | NW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 15 | NW 8 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | NW 6 |
206 | 203 | 201 | 183 | 50 | 171 | 219 | 347 | 214 | 398 | 222 | 742 | 627 | 337 | 525 | 297 | 189 | 321 | 59 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | W 13 | WNW 8 | W 6 | SW 15 | W 11 | SW 14 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SW 13 | SSW 18 | S 10 | S 10 | SSW 16 | W 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 10 | SSW 14 |
11 | 85 | 19 | 21 | 134 | 61 | 167 | 69 | 214 | 58 | 887 | 16 | 8 | 724 | 10 | 405 | 394 | 17 | 207 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | W 12 | W 12 | S 12 | SSW 18 | S 11 | W 10 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 10 | — | W 12 | S 10 | S 9 | S 15 | W 10 | SSE 16 | W 10 |
123 | 75 | 47 | 71 | 80 | 126 | 64 | 35 | 87 | 32 | 16 | — | 11 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 24 | 16 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | — | NW 8 | — | — | NW 7 | — |
— | 8 | 37 | 29 | 44 | 148 | 162 | 189 | 352 | 183 | 287 | 535 | 365 | — | 320 | — | — | 131 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 159 | 244 | 0 | 230 | 306 | 0 | 244 | 332 | 0 | 230 | 333 | 0 | 190 | 333 | 0 | 391 | 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.











