Big River surfForecast / CAL – Mendocino County / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 pm Wednesday 13 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 Thursday (May 14) at 2AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.3m and 11s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 13s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m 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 4.5m 9s 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+) 2AM (Thu 14th May)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s
Best Surf 2AM (Thu 14th May)7.5ft (2.3m) 11s
Most Powerful 2PM (Sun 17th May)15ft (4.5m) 9s

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 Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Thu morning, near gales from the NNW 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 (strong winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NNW by Tue morning).

Thursday
14
Friday
15
Saturday
16
Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wed
20
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Rating
(10 max)
4
1
1
1
1
0
1
1
0
1
1
0
3
2
1
3
3
3
4
1
2
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)
2.3
WNW
11
2.2
WNW
10
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
7
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
3.5
NW
8
4.5
NW
9
4
NW
9
4.5
NW
10
4.5
NW
9
3
NW
9
3
NW
9
3.5
NW
9
3
NW
8
1.5
WNW
14
2.5
NW
9
2.5
NW
13
2.5
NW
12
2.3
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1291
1022
1317
756
679
1742
864
1200
2699
3053
3293
3153
1467
1263
1941
1053
886
993
2399
1685
1076
Wind (km/h)
10
N
20
NW
40
NNW
25
NNW
35
NNW
45
NW
35
NNW
45
NW
55
NNW
35
NNW
40
NNW
50
NNW
20
N
25
NNW
40
NNW
20
N
20
NNW
20
NW
10
N
20
SSW
10
SW
cross-off
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross
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
on
on
High Tide
9:12PM1.74m
10:18AM1.25m
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
Low Tide
3:58AM-0.06m
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
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:01
6:01
6:01
6:00
5:58
5:58
5:56
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:19
8:20
8:21
8:22
8:22
8:23
8:24
8:25
Temp °C
11
12
13
13
12
12
12
12
12
11
12
14
13
13
14
14
13
14
13
12
13
6
8
7
5
6
3
3
3
1
1
3
4
4
8
8
7
9
10
11
10
10
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SSW
13
0.6
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.8
SSW
16
0.9
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
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
WNW
18
1
WNW
16
1.5
WNW
14
1.5
WNW
14
0.4
SW
16
2.5
NW
12
2.3
NW
10
Energy kJ
102
229
371
288
326
296
561
158
167
165
118
62
59
58
123
525
886
791
96
1685
1076
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
SSW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.2
S
13
0.4
NW
18
0.7
WNW
16
0.1
S
10
0.6
SSW
14
0.3
S
16
0.1
SW
19
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
19
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.3
SSW
17
0.4
S
16
0.4
SW
17
0.3
S
15
0.4
SW
16
0.4
S
15
0.5
SW
21
0.5
SW
16
Energy kJ
104
68
14
81
234
2
156
46
15
7
7
12
13
55
81
74
40
69
67
224
124
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.2
S
12
0.2
S
12
0.2
S
12
0.1
S
11
0.1
S
11
0.5
S
16
0.1
S
19
0.1
S
18
0.2
S
18
0.2
WNW
19
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
S
16
0.4
SW
16
0.3
S
15
0.4
S
15
0.4
S
14
0.4
S
14
Energy kJ
11
11
11
2
2
132
7
6
25
36
33
45
68
39
67
61
58
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.3
WNW
11
2.2
WNW
10
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
7
3.5
NW
8
2.5
NW
8
3.5
NW
8
4.5
NW
9
4
NW
9
4.5
NW
10
4.5
NW
9
3
NW
9
3
NW
9
3.5
NW
9
3
NW
8
2.3
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
2.5
NW
13
Energy kJ
1291
1022
1317
756
679
1742
864
1200
2699
3053
3293
3153
1467
1263
1941
1053
828
993
2399
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
1
4
4
1
3
3
3
3
4
2
4
5
4
3
3
4
4
3
2
4
4
Distance (km)
305
0
129
304
59
304
303
235
304
1750
303
304
303
100
183
303
0
111
97
0
57
Best forecast wave conditions in Mendocino County
Rating
(10 max)
4
3
4
5
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
2
4
4
3
4
4
3
4
4
2
5
5
4
7
4
4
5
4
3
5
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
4
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
5
4
7
4
4
4
4
5
4
6
  • 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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