Big River surfForecast / CAL – Mendocino County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Saturday 16 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Big River surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Big River sea temperature is
11.7° C
(Which is normal for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Big River this week:

The surf forecast for Big River over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 18s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big River in the next 16 days are 5.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (May 17) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Sun 17th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf11PM (Sun 17th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sun 17th May)16ft (5.0m) 10s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 10°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the N by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

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

Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
1
0
1
0
0
4
1
2
4
2
3
4
3
2
4
3
3
4
2
2
2
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
NW
8
4.5
NW
9
4
NW
9
4.5
NW
10
4.5
NW
10
3
NW
10
2.5
NW
9
3.5
NW
9
3
NW
9
2.5
NW
10
2.5
NW
9
1.6
WNW
13
2.4
NW
12
2.5
NW
9
1.6
NW
11
2.4
NW
11
2.1
NW
10
2.5
NW
10
2.1
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1176
2921
2889
3513
3704
1433
1062
1907
1236
1308
974
862
1638
1062
626
1278
850
1210
744
645
1040
Wind (km/h)
45
NW
55
NW
40
NNW
45
NNW
50
NNW
10
N
20
NW
25
NW
10
N
15
NW
15
NW
10
NNW
15
NW
10
NW
10
N
10
SW
5
WSW
5
NNW
10
SW
5
WNW
5
S
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
on
glassy
glassy
on
cross
cross-on
High Tide
12:15PM1.30m
11:04PM2.06m
1:13PM1.30m
11:49PM2.08m
2:11PM1.29m
00:38AM2.04m
3:10PM1.29m
1:31AM1.93m
4:11PM1.30m
2:30AM1.78m
5:11PM1.34m
3:36AM1.59m
6:06PM1.40m
4:52AM1.41m
Low Tide
4:51PM0.62m
6:19AM-0.58m
5:38PM0.70m
7:10AM-0.61m
6:29PM0.76m
8:04AM-0.58m
7:26PM0.80m
8:59AM-0.48m
8:33PM0.83m
9:56AM-0.36m
9:53PM0.81m
10:52AM-0.21m
11:21PM0.73m
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:22
8:22
8:23
8:24
8:25
8:25
8:27
Temp °C
11
11
11
11
14
13
13
13
12
14
14
13
13
13
12
14
14
12
11
12
11
3
0
1
1
4
6
8
8
7
10
11
11
10
10
10
13
12
11
9
10
11
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
S
14
0.4
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
13
0.6
WNW
18
1.3
WNW
16
2.5
NW
10
2.5
NW
9
1.6
WNW
13
2.4
NW
12
2.5
NW
9
2.1
NW
8
2.4
NW
11
2.1
NW
10
2.5
NW
10
2.1
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
Energy kJ
158
167
165
106
62
59
34
207
768
1108
974
862
1638
1062
619
1278
850
1210
744
645
1040
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.3
S
16
0.1
SW
19
0.1
S
20
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.3
WNW
19
0.4
S
16
0.4
SW
17
1.5
WNW
14
1.5
WNW
14
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
21
0.4
SW
16
1.6
NW
11
0.6
SW
19
1.2
WNW
11
0.5
SW
16
1.2
WNW
10
1.1
NW
10
0.5
SW
15
Energy kJ
46
15
7
12
12
13
72
81
74
886
779
69
224
89
626
303
323
118
283
260
109
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
18
0.2
S
18
0.3
SW
18
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
S
16
0.4
S
15
0.4
SW
16
0.4
S
15
0.4
S
14
0.4
S
14
0.5
SW
15
0.4
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.4
S
13
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.4
S
12
Energy kJ
7
6
25
49
33
45
70
69
67
61
58
112
80
113
52
154
154
47
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
NW
8
4.5
NW
9
4
NW
9
4.5
NW
10
4.5
NW
10
3
NW
10
2.5
NW
9
3.5
NW
9
3
NW
9
2.5
NW
10
2.1
NW
8
Energy kJ
1176
2921
2889
3513
3704
1433
1062
1907
1236
1308
596
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
1
4
4
1
4
4
1
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
3
Distance (km)
303
305
303
303
305
0
129
305
0
111
29
0
111
23
0
57
0
0
36
19
13
Best forecast wave conditions in Mendocino County
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
6
7
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
6
7
4
5
4
5
4
4
4
9
7
4
8
5
4
5
4
4
4
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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Information about the Big River Surf forecast

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

Big River is 54 km (34 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.

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