Surf Forecasts:
Deadman's surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 7s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 19s period, SSW swell with 424 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 21 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 13s period with SSW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Deadman's this week:
The surf forecast for Deadman's over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 13s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 10s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Deadman's in the next 16 days are 0.8m 19s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.1m 5s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 13s |
| Best Surf | 5PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 19s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Deadman's over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here, and while we got a break on the radar, I gotta be straight with ya – this ain't one for the highlight reel. We've got a single spot in the mix: Deadman's (reef). It's exposed to the south-west, which is the direction we want, but this setup is about as finicky as it gets.
Right now, through the end of this month, the story is pretty flat. Don't get your hopes up for the next week or so; there's a big ol' gap of nothing special on the table. Most days are serving up tiny, weak slop with cross-shore winds messing it up. The water temp is sitting at 59°F, which is pretty much what you'd expect for late August.
We do get a little spike of energy on Sunday, August 23rd afternoon – combined swell energy is moderate at 525 – with a 5ft stormy NW windswell and a short period of 7 seconds. It's clean with a cross-offshore breeze, but that short period and the fact this spot is a reef means it might wall up quick and steep. Not the best for an easy paddle.
Look, the best bet in this whole 16-day window is Thursday, September 3rd afternoon. The wind goes totally glassy – calm as a lake. Swell comes up to a clean 5ft from the NW with a nice 12-second groundswell period, giving it some real push. The combined energy is strong at 1061. This is the standout, but because it's a reef, and the swell direction is NW (not the optimum SW), it might not line up perfectly, and with crowds listed as "often" here, you might have company. This one's for the experienced crew; the 5ft on that reef will feel meaty.
After that, we get a pulse on September 5th with an 8ft NW windswell (period 9 seconds). It'll be clean with cross-offshore winds, but 8ft is big, expert territory only. The energy is very strong (2164), but that short period on a reef makes it a handful.
To be perfectly honest, for the first several days, the conditions and tiny swell make it look more like a kite-surfing setup than a paddler's dream. There are moments where the energy ticks up, but the quality just isn't there for a solid surf until that Thursday glass-off. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but don't hold your breath.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat night, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Wed night, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | ||||||||||||||
PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | NW 7 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSE 16 | SSE 14 | SW 15 | S 14 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
139 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 95 | 231 | 248 | 199 | 255 | 192 | 183 | 326 | 214 | 161 | 203 | 201 | 188 | 210 | 171 | 187 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | off | cross | cross | off | cross | cross | off |
High Tide | 6:29PM1.70m | 9:37AM1.22m | 7:32PM1.73m | 10:19AM1.28m | 8:30PM1.78m | 10:51AM1.35m | 9:19PM1.84m | 11:19AM1.42m | 10:05PM1.88m | 11:46AM1.49m | 10:47PM1.90m | 12:12PM1.57m | 11:29PM1.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:21AM0.22m | 1:13PM1.08m | 3:15AM0.14m | 2:23PM1.05m | 4:00AM0.07m | 3:22PM0.98m | 4:38AM0.01m | 4:11PM0.89m | 5:12AM-0.02m | 4:54PM0.79m | 5:43AM-0.02m | 5:34PM0.67m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | 6:37 | — | — | |
8:04 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — | — | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 19 | SW 18 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSE 14 | S 13 | S 14 |
83 | 78 | 99 | 98 | 90 | 231 | 166 | 173 | 155 | 116 | 51 | 326 | 214 | 161 | 203 | 201 | 186 | 210 | 125 | 187 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | SW 18 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | S 16 | SW 18 | S 14 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 13 | W 13 | W 12 | SSE 16 | W 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 |
139 | 99 | 55 | 111 | 32 | 76 | 82 | 124 | 255 | 153 | 148 | 126 | 126 | 125 | 85 | 74 | 188 | 89 | 171 | 167 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 18 | S 16 | SW 16 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 18 | SW 17 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | W 14 | S 12 | S 12 | W 12 | SW 15 | W 12 | W 11 |
23 | 15 | 50 | 46 | 95 | 29 | 29 | 199 | 106 | 192 | 183 | 30 | 14 | 65 | 75 | 45 | 72 | 134 | 69 | 35 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NW 8 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 6 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NW 7 | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 6 |
— | — | 28 | 47 | 23 | 94 | 248 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24 | 6 | 49 | 42 | 9 | 63 | 44 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 386 | 1 | 52 | 384 | 2 | 192 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 242 | 1 | 1 | 195 | 195 | 1 | 195 | 384 | 1 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Deadman's Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Deadman's provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Deadman's can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Deadman's 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 (Deadman's) 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 Deadman's 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.
Deadman's is 86 km (53 miles) from Eureka. If you plan a vacation in Humboldt County, look for hotels and other accommodation in Eureka. Eureka has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











