Big River surfForecast / CAL – Mendocino County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 pm Thursday 14 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
12.2° 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 Tuesday (May 19) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 16s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 17s 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 5PM. 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+) 2AM (Tue 19th May)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Best Surf 2AM (Tue 19th May)10ft (3.0m) 9s
Most Powerful 5PM (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 13°C on Thu afternoon, min 9°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Thu night, near gales from the NW by Sat afternoon).

Days 5-7 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 14°C on Sun afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (near gales from the NNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Wed morning).

Thu
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
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
2
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
3
2
2
4
2
3
4
3
3
4
3
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)
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
7
3
NW
8
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
3.5
NW
8
4.5
NW
9
4
NW
10
4
NW
10
5
NW
10
3
NW
9
3
NW
9
4
NW
9
3
NW
9
2.4
NW
9
3
NW
9
3
NW
10
3
NW
10
2.5
NW
10
2.3
NW
11
2.4
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1417
735
839
1785
820
1307
3014
3185
3279
4182
1188
1535
2371
1336
959
1373
1520
1924
1271
1304
1126
Wind (km/h)
40
NNW
25
NNW
35
NW
45
NW
40
NNW
50
NW
55
NW
35
NNW
40
NNW
50
NNW
25
NNW
25
NNW
35
NNW
15
NNW
20
NW
20
NW
10
N
10
NW
5
NW
0
NNW
10
SSW
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross
cross
glassy
on
High Tide
9:45PM1.87m
11:18AM1.28m
10:23PM1.99m
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
Low Tide
3:24PM0.44m
4:44AM-0.29m
4:07PM0.54m
5:30AM-0.47m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
5:56
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:20
8:21
8:22
8:22
8:23
8:24
8:25
8:25
Temp °C
13
13
12
12
12
11
11
11
12
14
13
12
13
13
14
13
12
14
15
15
13
7
5
5
3
3
3
1
1
3
3
4
6
6
7
10
9
9
12
13
14
11
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
15
1.2
WNW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
15
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.4
SSW
14
1.3
WNW
10
0.3
SSW
13
0.6
WNW
18
1.2
WNW
16
1.4
WNW
14
1.6
WNW
13
1.5
WNW
13
3
NW
10
2.5
NW
10
2.3
NW
11
2.4
NW
10
Energy kJ
371
288
259
296
561
158
167
165
118
62
389
34
209
666
785
915
689
1924
1271
1304
1126
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
12
0.4
NW
18
0.7
WNW
16
0.1
S
10
0.7
SSW
15
0.3
S
16
0.1
SW
19
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
19
0.1
SW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.3
S
17
0.3
S
16
0.4
SW
17
0.3
S
15
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
21
1.7
WNW
12
1.8
NNW
10
1
WNW
11
Energy kJ
3
81
234
2
246
46
15
7
7
12
59
49
46
74
40
69
69
224
731
650
251
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
13
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
11
0.1
W
20
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
18
0.1
SW
18
0.2
WNW
19
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
S
16
0.4
SW
16
0.3
S
15
0.3
S
15
0.4
S
14
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
15
0.6
SW
19
Energy kJ
3
2
2
7
7
6
13
36
33
45
68
39
38
61
89
112
303
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
7
3
NW
8
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
3.5
NW
8
4.5
NW
9
4
NW
10
4
NW
10
5
NW
10
3
NW
9
3
NW
9
4
NW
9
3
NW
9
2.4
NW
9
3
NW
9
3
NW
10
Energy kJ
1417
735
839
1785
820
1307
3014
3185
3279
4182
1188
1535
2371
1336
959
1373
1520
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
2
3
4
3
4
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
Distance (km)
303
59
202
303
235
303
648
303
202
303
59
129
304
0
111
129
0
85
13
0
36
Best forecast wave conditions in Mendocino County
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
4
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
4
3
4
4
4
8
5
4
6
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
5
5
4
4
5
5
8
5
4
6
4
4
4
5
4
5
6
9
9
8
  • 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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