5.1ft Hs
WNW from · 288° · 12.4 s
CALIFORNIA / Santa Cruz · guideSPOT / 357
Capitola Rivermouth.
Capitola / the rivermouth entry
Left & right (reported)36.970° N / 121.950° W
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Forecast & tide at a glance
Regional wave height (Hs) · feet · Pacific time. Regional significant wave height is not the height breaking at the beach.
Regional wave height (Hs)5.8 ftOlder cached forecast Wed Nov 11, 9:00pm Pacific
Coastal wind1.6 mphNNE from · older cache
NOAA tide reference1.3 ftMLLW · Monterey
READ THE INDIVIDUAL SWELLS
Swell by swell.
Offshore component height (Hs), not surf-face height. Directions are where waves come from. Component heights do not add together.
Wed Nov 11, 9:00pm Pacific
GFS · 2 components
0.0ft Hs
No energy reported for this component
MFWAM · 2 components
4.6ft Hs
WNW from · 282° · 9.4 s
0.0ft Hs
No energy reported for this component
Each model supplies its own partitions. Missing components remain unavailable; another model’s primary swell is not automatically the same wave system.
Coastal wind retrieved Wed Nov 11, 10:40am · older cache. This is regional modeled wind, not a beach measurement.
Source retrievals: GFS Nov 11, 10:40am (older cache) · ECMWF Nov 11, 10:40am (older cache) · MFWAM Nov 11, 10:40am (older cache). Retrieval time is not the model issue time. This page combines all available cached model families; map model selections are separate.
Tide predictions: Monterey, 40 km reference; retrieved Wed Nov 11, 8:15pm. Station predictions can differ locally.
Seven-day overview
| Pacific day | Regional wave height (Hs) | Mean wind | Hours available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 11 | 6.3 ft | 3.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Thu Nov 12 | 8.0 ft | 10.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Fri Nov 13 | 9.8 ft | 15.7 mph | 14/14 |
| Sat Nov 14 | 16.7 ft | 5.2 mph | 14/14 |
| Sun Nov 15 | 8.7 ft | 2.9 mph | 14/14 |
| Mon Nov 16 | 13.6 ft | 5.8 mph | 14/14 |
| Tue Nov 17 | 9.4 ft | 3.7 mph | 14/14 |
Hourly details · next 72 hours
| Pacific time | Regional wave height (Hs) | Model range | Swell from | Wind | Tide MLLW | Models |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 9:00pm | 5.8 ft | 4.9–7.1 ft | WNW · 11.9 s | 1.6 mph NNE | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Wed 10:00pm | 5.8 ft | 4.9–7.1 ft | WNW · 12.0 s | 2.6 mph NE | 2.2 ft | 3 |
| Wed 11:00pm | 6.0 ft | 5.0–7.2 ft | WNW · 12.0 s | 2.4 mph NNE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00am | 6.1 ft | 5.1–7.3 ft | WNW · 13.0 s | 3.8 mph NNW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00am | 6.2 ft | 5.1–7.4 ft | WNW · 13.0 s | 3.8 mph NNW | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00am | 6.4 ft | 5.2–7.6 ft | WNW · 12.9 s | 3.9 mph N | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00am | 6.6 ft | 5.4–7.9 ft | WNW · 12.9 s | 7.8 mph SSW | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00am | 6.8 ft | 5.6–8.1 ft | WNW · 12.9 s | 6.8 mph SW | 3.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00am | 7.0 ft | 5.7–8.3 ft | WNW · 12.9 s | 4.8 mph SSW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00am | 7.1 ft | 5.8–8.5 ft | WNW · 13.0 s | 5.3 mph SSW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00am | 7.3 ft | 6.0–8.7 ft | WNW · 13.0 s | 8.1 mph SSW | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00am | 7.4 ft | 6.0–8.8 ft | WNW · 13.0 s | 7.0 mph SE | 4.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00am | 7.5 ft | 6.2–8.9 ft | WNW · 13.1 s | 10.3 mph ESE | 4.9 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00am | 7.5 ft | 6.2–9.1 ft | WNW · 13.2 s | 7.5 mph SE | 5.3 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00am | 7.7 ft | 6.4–9.3 ft | WNW · 13.2 s | 4.0 mph SSE | 5.4 ft | 3 |
| Thu 12:00pm | 7.8 ft | 6.5–9.4 ft | WNW · 13.3 s | 5.5 mph SSW | 5.2 ft | 3 |
| Thu 1:00pm | 7.9 ft | 6.6–9.6 ft | WNW · 13.3 s | 10.3 mph SSW | 4.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 2:00pm | 8.2 ft | 6.9–9.8 ft | W · 13.1 s | 13.0 mph SSW | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Thu 3:00pm | 8.4 ft | 7.2–10.0 ft | W · 12.9 s | 15.3 mph SSW | 2.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 4:00pm | 8.7 ft | 7.5–10.3 ft | W · 12.8 s | 18.5 mph SSW | 1.5 ft | 3 |
| Thu 5:00pm | 8.7 ft | 7.5–10.3 ft | W · 12.8 s | 15.8 mph SSW | 0.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 6:00pm | 8.7 ft | 7.6–10.2 ft | W · 12.9 s | 11.5 mph S | 0.0 ft | 3 |
| Thu 7:00pm | 8.6 ft | 7.7–10.2 ft | W · 13.0 s | 10.4 mph S | -0.1 ft | 3 |
| Thu 8:00pm | 8.5 ft | 7.7–10.2 ft | W · 13.0 s | 8.7 mph SSE | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Thu 9:00pm | 8.5 ft | 7.6–10.3 ft | W · 13.0 s | 7.3 mph SE | 0.8 ft | 3 |
| Thu 10:00pm | 8.5 ft | 7.6–10.3 ft | W · 12.9 s | 6.1 mph SSE | 1.6 ft | 3 |
| Thu 11:00pm | 8.5 ft | 7.6–10.2 ft | W · 12.9 s | 7.7 mph SSE | 2.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00am | 8.5 ft | 7.6–10.2 ft | W · 12.9 s | 6.2 mph SE | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00am | 8.5 ft | 7.6–10.2 ft | W · 12.9 s | 6.1 mph E | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00am | 8.5 ft | 7.7–10.2 ft | W · 12.8 s | 6.6 mph E | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00am | 8.6 ft | 7.7–10.1 ft | W · 12.8 s | 7.2 mph ESE | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00am | 8.6 ft | 7.8–10.1 ft | W · 12.7 s | 7.1 mph SE | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00am | 8.6 ft | 7.8–10.2 ft | W · 12.6 s | 7.1 mph SSE | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00am | 8.7 ft | 7.9–10.2 ft | W · 12.5 s | 8.5 mph SSE | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00am | 8.9 ft | 7.9–10.2 ft | W · 12.3 s | 17.0 mph S | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00am | 9.1 ft | 8.1–10.2 ft | W · 12.1 s | 19.8 mph SSW | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00am | 9.2 ft | 8.4–10.3 ft | W · 11.9 s | 16.9 mph SSW | 4.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00am | 9.2 ft | 8.7–10.3 ft | W · 11.6 s | 15.9 mph SSW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00am | 9.4 ft | 8.6–10.6 ft | W · 11.3 s | 16.8 mph SSW | 5.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 12:00pm | 9.7 ft | 8.8–10.8 ft | W · 11.0 s | 20.6 mph SSW | 5.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 1:00pm | 10.0 ft | 9.0–11.1 ft | WSW · 10.8 s | 20.7 mph SSW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Fri 2:00pm | 10.2 ft | 9.1–11.5 ft | W · 10.8 s | 19.3 mph SSW | 4.2 ft | 3 |
| Fri 3:00pm | 10.4 ft | 9.3–11.9 ft | W · 11.1 s | 20.6 mph SSW | 3.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 4:00pm | 10.4 ft | 9.1–12.3 ft | W · 11.4 s | 14.5 mph WSW | 2.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 5:00pm | 10.5 ft | 8.5–12.9 ft | W · 12.1 s | 11.9 mph W | 1.3 ft | 3 |
| Fri 6:00pm | 10.7 ft | 8.4–13.5 ft | W · 12.9 s | 8.6 mph NW | 0.5 ft | 3 |
| Fri 7:00pm | 10.9 ft | 8.3–14.0 ft | W · 13.4 s | 8.0 mph WNW | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 8:00pm | 11.5 ft | 8.3–14.9 ft | W · 13.7 s | 5.6 mph NW | 0.1 ft | 3 |
| Fri 9:00pm | 12.1 ft | 8.5–15.7 ft | W · 14.2 s | 6.5 mph NW | 0.4 ft | 3 |
| Fri 10:00pm | 12.8 ft | 8.9–16.7 ft | WNW · 14.6 s | 5.7 mph NW | 1.0 ft | 3 |
| Fri 11:00pm | 13.6 ft | 9.8–17.6 ft | WNW · 15.0 s | 5.5 mph NW | 1.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00am | 14.4 ft | 10.8–18.4 ft | WNW · 15.4 s | 4.7 mph NNW | 2.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00am | 15.3 ft | 12.0–19.4 ft | WNW · 15.7 s | 4.5 mph NNW | 3.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00am | 16.0 ft | 13.1–20.0 ft | WNW · 16.6 s | 4.3 mph NNW | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00am | 16.7 ft | 14.0–20.7 ft | WNW · 16.8 s | 3.8 mph N | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00am | 17.2 ft | 14.7–21.4 ft | WNW · 16.9 s | 3.7 mph NNE | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00am | 17.5 ft | 15.1–21.9 ft | WNW · 16.9 s | 4.4 mph NE | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00am | 17.8 ft | 15.2–22.3 ft | WNW · 16.9 s | 4.2 mph ENE | 3.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00am | 17.9 ft | 15.2–22.8 ft | WNW · 16.9 s | 4.7 mph NE | 3.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00am | 17.9 ft | 15.0–22.9 ft | WNW · 16.8 s | 4.0 mph NE | 3.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00am | 17.9 ft | 14.8–23.0 ft | WNW · 16.6 s | 2.8 mph NNE | 4.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 10:00am | 17.9 ft | 14.6–23.2 ft | WNW · 16.5 s | 1.6 mph NNE | 4.4 ft | 3 |
| Sat 11:00am | 17.7 ft | 14.4–22.8 ft | WNW · 16.4 s | 2.5 mph S | 4.7 ft | 3 |
| Sat 12:00pm | 17.4 ft | 14.1–22.5 ft | WNW · 16.2 s | 5.0 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 1:00pm | 17.1 ft | 13.8–22.2 ft | WNW · 16.1 s | 7.0 mph SW | 4.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 2:00pm | 16.6 ft | 13.6–21.5 ft | WNW · 16.0 s | 7.6 mph WSW | 4.5 ft | 3 |
| Sat 3:00pm | 16.2 ft | 13.3–20.7 ft | WNW · 15.9 s | 8.3 mph WSW | 3.8 ft | 3 |
| Sat 4:00pm | 15.7 ft | 13.0–19.9 ft | WNW · 15.7 s | 7.4 mph WSW | 3.0 ft | 3 |
| Sat 5:00pm | 15.2 ft | 12.7–19.2 ft | WNW · 15.5 s | 6.6 mph W | 2.1 ft | 3 |
| Sat 6:00pm | 14.7 ft | 12.3–18.4 ft | WNW · 15.3 s | 6.0 mph WNW | 1.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 7:00pm | 14.2 ft | 12.0–17.7 ft | WNW · 15.2 s | 5.5 mph NW | 0.6 ft | 3 |
| Sat 8:00pm | 13.8 ft | 11.7–17.1 ft | WNW · 15.0 s | 4.0 mph NNW | 0.2 ft | 3 |
| Sat 9:00pm | 13.3 ft | 11.4–16.5 ft | WNW · 14.9 s | 2.8 mph NE | 0.3 ft | 3 |
Model spread is not a confidence interval. Tide and wind are context, not new corrections to surf size. Larger sets and changing hazards remain possible.
This page reads the shared cache first. Refresh requests only this spot’s existing regional samples.
Know the spot
Capitola Rivermouth is described as a sheltered beach-and-jetty setup with a southwest preference.
- Break type
- Beach / jetty break (reported)
- Wave direction
- Left & right (reported)
- Reported difficulty
- Not yet verified
- Bottom
- Sand; local rock and structures require checking
- Reported swell preference
- SW (published preference; not an exclusive window)
- Reported tide preference
- low tide (published preference)
Catalogue notes and review history
Statewide research draft / Santa Cruz County. Approximate directory-area search seed: 36.97, -121.95. NOT a verified takeoff.
Statewide recovery: source-area coordinates are not owner-confirmed takeoffs. Sources may round or obscure positions. Named sections may share a reference coordinate; their distinct takeoffs are not implied. No route, access permission or current ocean condition is established. Source note: Research batch: california-coast-expansion-20260927. Public reference checked 27 September 2026. Approximate directory-area search seed: 36.97, -121.95. NOT a verified takeoff.
https://www.surf-forecast.com/breaks/Capitola-Rivermouth/forecasts/latest/six_day
The reference was retained from the interrupted 27 September research pass; not every individual page was rechecked on 28 September. The source location is approximate, not a surveyed takeoff.
Before paddling out: Access, water quality, local hazards and current restrictions need independent checks. Directory inclusion is not permission or a safety assessment.
Access not independently verified Approximate directory-area reference. May be displaced or obscured in its source; NOT a takeoff, route, access point or survey.
Source references
Provenance is not proof that every inherited claim or current access condition has been rechecked.
THE FIELD GUIDE / Capitola Rivermouth
Read this stretch of coast.
Capitola / the rivermouth entry
Sand and outlet conditions matter here. Keep those observations separate from the jetty reef page, even when the two entries share a similar regional forecast.
Swell, wind and water level
Reported swell reference: SW (published preference; not an exclusive window). Wind reference from retained sources: NE. Reported tide guidance: low tide (published preference). Compare each swell’s direction and period with the actual breaking line. These qualitative descriptions are not calibrated height multipliers or fixed tide cutoffs.
What to refine on your next check
Confirm the actual takeoff, local tide response and any missing peel/difficulty details.
Research and sources · 5 October 2026
A researched starting point for local refinement. Reported preferences can differ between guides; sand and rock labels inferred from break classifications are not seabed surveys. Forecast data and catalogue coordinates are separate from this editorial research.
- Surf-Forecast — Capitola Rivermouth published spot guide
Camera references nearby
Capitola Beach ↗
City of Capitola / Surfline · about 0.2 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
City-hosted beach-camera page with multiple player views of Capitola.
Santa Cruz Harbor ↗
Visit Santa Cruz County · about 4.7 km from the catalogue pin · video-page
Harbor-camera page published by the county visitor organization.
Cowells Beach research camera ↗
U.S. Geological Survey · about 6.8 km from the catalogue pin · periodic-stills
Research camera snapshot looking southward over Cowells Beach.
Links to third-party camera pages, not owned feeds. Proximity does not confirm the camera sees this break. Playback and image freshness have not been verified by this page.
Make the next session easier
Lineup etiquette · Paddling technique · How these forecasts work
Nearby spots to compare
PureSurfers is built by Peter Ochabski. Spot profiles combine retained sources and contributor observations; this is not a claim he has surfed or verified every entry.
COASTAL WAVE GUIDANCE
Waves at the model cells
Awaiting shared model dataSignificant wave height (Hs) before the legacy spot reduction. This is not a measured breaking-face or set range.
Nearshore and buoy trends load here. Coverage and observation times are shown separately.