Mad River Beach surfForecast / CAL – Humboldt / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 pm Wednesday 06 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Mad River Beach surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Mad River Beach sea temperature is
11.9° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Mad River Beach this week:

The surf forecast for Mad River Beach over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 06) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.2m and 12s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Mad River Beach in the next 16 days are 1.5m 11s and forecast to arrive on Monday (May 11) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Wed 6th May)4ft (1.2m) 12s
Best Surf 5AM (Sun 10th May)4.5ft (1.4m) 11s
Most Powerful 2AM (Mon 11th May)5ft (1.5m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Mad River Beach over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Tue morning, min 10°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light.

Wed
6
Thursday
7
Friday
8
Saturday
9
Sunday
10
Monday
11
Tuesday
12
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
1
1
1
1
2
0
0
1
1
0
2
1
0
3
1
2
3
2
2
3
1
Swell
Height Map
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.components.forecast-table.maps.snow_map">Snow Map</span>
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
WNW
13
1.2
WNW
12
1.3
WNW
12
1.2
WNW
11
1.1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
10
0.6
WNW
15
1.1
W
10
0.9
WNW
13
1.4
W
12
1.3
W
11
1.3
W
11
1.5
W
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.6
NW
8
1.9
NNW
8
1.8
NNW
8
0.9
WNW
13
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
492
432
429
337
265
157
140
167
262
286
538
411
410
596
478
478
423
306
481
466
277
Wind (km/h)
15
NNW
10
N
10
W
10
WNW
5
NW
10
NW
15
NNW
5
NNE
10
NW
15
NNW
5
N
10
NNW
20
NNW
5
ESE
10
NNW
10
NNW
5
SE
10
NW
10
NNW
5
S
5
W
cross-on
cross
on
on
glassy
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross
off
cross-on
cross
glassy
cross-on
cross-on
glassy
on
High Tide
5:34PM1.57m
3:45AM2.04m
6:29PM1.55m
4:37AM1.92m
7:22PM1.58m
5:41AM1.80m
8:10PM1.66m
6:56AM1.70m
8:51PM1.78m
8:13AM1.65m
9:28PM1.94m
9:27AM1.66m
10:03PM2.12m
10:36AM1.70m
Low Tide
9:45PM1.15m
11:05AM-0.02m
10:42PM1.17m
11:56AM0.05m
11:57PM1.15m
12:48PM0.11m
1:19AM1.04m
1:40PM0.18m
2:31AM0.84m
2:31PM0.26m
3:31AM0.56m
3:18PM0.35m
4:22AM0.25m
cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:07
6:05
6:05
6:03
6:03
6:01
6:01
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:17
8:19
8:20
8:21
8:22
8:22
8:23
8:24
Temp °C
13
12
14
14
11
13
13
11
14
14
11
13
14
12
15
15
14
20
20
17
17
12
11
13
12
10
10
10
8
13
12
9
11
11
9
13
13
13
19
19
17
16
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.2
WNW
13
1.2
WNW
12
1.3
WNW
12
1.2
WNW
11
1.1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
10
0.6
WNW
15
1.1
W
10
1
W
10
1.4
W
12
1.3
W
11
1.3
W
11
1.5
W
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.4
WNW
11
1.7
NNW
8
1.6
NW
8
1.9
NNW
8
1.8
NNW
8
1.3
NNW
8
Energy kJ
492
432
429
337
265
157
109
167
262
192
538
411
410
596
478
478
306
306
481
466
202
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
WNW
7
0.9
NW
7
0.8
NW
7
0.9
NW
7
0.8
NW
7
0.7
NNW
8
0.6
NNW
7
0.5
WNW
9
0.7
WNW
14
0.9
WNW
13
0.7
NW
6
0.6
SW
17
0.5
SW
18
1.3
NNW
6
1.1
NW
6
0.4
SW
16
1.4
WNW
11
1.1
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
11
0.9
WNW
13
Energy kJ
59
73
65
73
62
51
37
47
204
286
31
190
154
128
82
89
423
297
194
164
277
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SW
16
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.5
SW
14
0.4
SW
14
0.4
WNW
16
0.5
WNW
16
0.5
NNW
7
0.3
NNW
6
0.3
SW
19
0.5
SW
16
0.1
SW
12
0.1
SW
12
0.4
SW
15
0.6
SW
16
0.6
SW
16
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
0.4
SW
15
0.4
SW
14
Energy kJ
155
99
100
99
65
100
140
26
8
59
124
5
5
75
153
159
77
74
75
73
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
NW
5
0.9
NW
5
1.1
NW
6
1.3
NW
7
Energy kJ
19
42
75
140
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
2
3
2
3
3
3
3
3
2
3
3
2
Distance (km)
96
56
98
98
0
96
158
0
96
476
14
96
477
0
287
100
0
96
56
0
158
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County
Rating
(10 max)
3
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
4
3
4
3
2
4
3
2
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
3
2
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
7
6
6
6
5
5
5
5
4
6
9
5
5
4
5
9
5
5
5
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Mad River Beach:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Mad River Beach surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Mad River Beach Surf forecast

The above surf forecast table for Mad River Beach provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Mad River Beach can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Mad River Beach 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 (Mad River Beach) 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 Mad River Beach 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.

Mad River Beach is 6 km (4 miles) from McKinleyville. If you plan a vacation in Humboldt County, look for hotels and other accommodation in McKinleyville. McKinleyville has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest