Big River surfForecast / CAL – Mendocino County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 pm Wednesday 27 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
11.6° C
(Which is slightly cooler than normal)

Big River surf forecast from 28 May 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Wednesday 27 May, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 29 May, 2PM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 14s period, NW swell with 2,708 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Wednesday 27 May, 11PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period with NW swell.

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 Wednesday (May 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 22s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Big River in the next 16 days are 2.5m 14s and forecast to arrive on Friday (May 29) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Wednesday (Jun 03) at 5PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+)11PM (Wed 27th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Best Surf11PM (Wed 27th May)10ft (3.0m) 10s
Most Powerful 2PM (Fri 29th May)8ft (2.5m) 14s

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


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Some drizzle, heaviest during Wed night. Very mild (max 14°C on Thu morning, min 9°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 13°C on Mon morning, min 8°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sat afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Mon night).

Wed
27
Thursday
28
Friday
29
Saturday
30
Sunday
31
Monday
1
Tuesday
2
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
3
4
3
2
4
2
2
3
2
2
4
3
2
4
1
1
3
1
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
NW
11
2.5
NW
10
1.7
WNW
18
2
WNW
17
2.2
WNW
16
2.5
NW
14
1.9
WNW
14
1.5
WNW
13
2.3
NW
8
3
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
10
3
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
1.9
NW
10
2.3
NW
9
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
2283
1391
1901
2215
2359
2626
1484
734
678
1368
794
1336
1464
1137
665
846
742
559
539
525
425
Wind (km/h)
15
NW
10
SE
15
NW
10
NW
5
NNW
10
WNW
20
NW
10
N
25
NW
30
NNW
20
NNW
20
NW
20
NW
15
NNW
10
WNW
15
NW
10
NNW
20
NW
20
NW
10
N
15
NW
cross
cross
cross
cross
glassy
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-off
cross
High Tide
9:21PM1.74m
11:01AM1.13m
9:51PM1.76m
11:51AM1.15m
10:22PM1.77m
12:36PM1.17m
10:53PM1.77m
1:18PM1.18m
11:26PM1.75m
1:59PM1.19m
00:01AM1.73m
2:41PM1.19m
00:37AM1.68m
Low Tide
2:54PM0.56m
4:25AM-0.08m
3:32PM0.67m
5:03AM-0.17m
4:09PM0.75m
5:39AM-0.23m
4:45PM0.81m
6:14AM-0.25m
5:21PM0.85m
6:50AM-0.25m
5:57PM0.87m
7:28AM-0.23m
6:36PM0.90m
8:06AM-0.20m
clear
rain showers
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:52
5:52
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:50
5:48
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:30
8:31
8:32
8:34
8:34
8:35
8:36
8:37
1
Temp °C
13
12
14
13
12
12
12
11
10
10
11
12
12
11
13
12
11
11
11
10
14
10
11
11
9
10
10
8
9
6
4
6
8
8
8
11
9
9
7
7
7
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
NW
11
2.5
NW
10
2.3
NW
10
2
WNW
17
2.2
WNW
16
2.5
NW
14
1.9
WNW
14
1.5
WNW
13
1.3
WNW
12
0.5
SSW
14
1.3
WNW
11
0.8
SSW
21
0.8
SSW
20
0.8
SSW
20
1.9
NW
10
1
SSW
18
1.1
SSW
17
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
1
SSW
16
0.9
SSW
16
Energy kJ
2283
1391
948
2215
2359
2626
1484
734
534
107
393
511
500
485
665
659
742
559
539
525
425
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.8
SSW
14
1
WNW
21
1.7
WNW
18
2
NW
9
1.5
NW
9
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.2
SSW
24
0.4
SSW
22
0.3
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
16
0.5
SSW
16
1.2
NNW
9
0.4
SSW
15
0.9
WNW
9
0.1
S
12
0.1
SW
22
0.2
SSW
22
0.7
W
12
Energy kJ
236
882
1901
668
328
145
156
110
104
54
185
32
102
153
227
84
133
3
18
45
146
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
WNW
24
0.8
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.1
S
21
0.1
S
26
0.2
SSW
19
0.2
SSW
19
0.4
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
SSW
13
1
SSW
18
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
14
0.1
S
15
0.1
S
12
0.2
S
14
0.5
SSW
19
Energy kJ
54
236
156
149
145
9
13
37
34
69
32
33
623
3
4
4
3
16
214
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.7
NW
8
1.8
NW
6
2.2
NW
8
2.3
NW
8
3
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
10
3
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
2.1
NW
8
2.3
NW
9
2.1
NW
8
2
NW
7
2
NW
7
1.6
NW
6
0.9
NW
8
Energy kJ
398
280
531
678
1368
794
1336
1464
1137
634
846
539
410
366
171
94
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
2
2
4
2
2
4
3
4
4
3
2
3
2
Distance (km)
39
7
54
209
0
129
183
0
202
304
59
160
304
0
160
59
0
129
277
0
277
Best forecast wave conditions in Mendocino County
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
4
4
4
4
3
4
2
2
4
4
3
4
4
4
4
3
2
4
3
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
7
9
9
6
5
5
5
5
7
7
5
5
5
4
4
4
5
5
5
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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