Third Reef surfForecast / CAL – Humboldt / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 10 am Friday 22 May 2026 PDT
Forecast update in hr  min  s Forecast update imminent
Third Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.
Today's Third Reef sea temperature is
9.8° C
(Which is 2.3°C colder than average for this time of year)

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Third Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Friday (May 22) at 5PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 18s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Third Reef in the next 16 days are 4.0m 13s and forecast to arrive on Tuesday (May 26) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 4s period and expected on Sunday (May 24) at 11PM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 5PM (Fri 22nd May)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Best Surf11PM (Fri 22nd May)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful 8PM (Tue 26th May)13ft (4.0m) 13s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.


Updates in  hr  min  s Forecast update imminent

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 15°C on Fri morning, min 9°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Wed afternoon, min 9°C on Mon night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Mon night, fresh winds from the NW by Wed afternoon).

Friday
22
Saturday
23
Sunday
24
Monday
25
Tuesday
26
Wednesday
27
Thursday
28
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
2
3
3
2
3
2
1
3
3
3
2
3
0
0
6
0
0
4
1
0
4
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
NW
10
1.8
NW
9
1.3
NW
9
1.2
WNW
10
0.7
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
NW
16
0.9
WNW
15
1
WNW
13
1.3
WNW
13
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
17
3.5
NW
13
3
NW
13
3.5
NW
12
2.5
NW
11
2.5
NW
10
2.4
NW
10
1.3
WNW
18
1.5
WNW
17
1.7
WNW
16
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
577
531
275
251
255
258
261
372
373
512
524
599
3963
2914
3922
1514
1251
1007
1131
1265
1415
Wind (km/h)
5
WNW
5
W
10
NNE
5
SW
5
S
5
SSE
10
S
10
SSE
10
ESE
15
SSE
10
SSW
15
N
20
WNW
30
WNW
15
N
25
NW
35
NNW
15
N
20
NW
20
NW
15
NNE
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
glassy
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
6:06PM1.47m
4:54AM1.46m
6:57PM1.54m
6:20AM1.30m
7:41PM1.63m
7:47AM1.22m
8:19PM1.71m
9:02AM1.19m
8:54PM1.77m
10:06AM1.21m
9:27PM1.82m
11:02AM1.23m
9:58PM1.84m
Low Tide
11:00AM-0.22m
11:32PM0.79m
11:55AM-0.04m
00:54AM0.63m
12:48PM0.14m
2:04AM0.43m
1:38PM0.30m
3:03AM0.22m
2:24PM0.46m
3:53AM0.04m
3:08PM0.59m
4:35AM-0.11m
3:50PM0.69m
clear
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:54
5:54
5:54
5:52
5:52
5:52
5:50
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:30
8:30
8:31
8:32
8:34
8:35
8:35
Temp °C
15
13
13
12
11
10
11
12
11
12
12
11
12
13
13
15
16
13
14
14
15
14
12
12
11
10
10
10
10
9
9
10
10
7
6
8
9
8
9
10
10
11
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
NW
10
1.8
NW
9
1.3
NW
9
1.2
WNW
10
0.9
NW
8
0.9
WNW
10
0.8
NW
8
0.9
WNW
15
1
WNW
13
1.3
WNW
13
1
WNW
12
1.4
NW
12
2.5
NW
13
0.9
SSW
16
2.5
NW
12
0.8
SSW
15
0.8
SSW
14
2
NW
9
1.3
WNW
18
1.5
WNW
17
1.7
WNW
16
Energy kJ
577
531
275
251
109
142
77
372
373
512
294
599
2490
348
2130
242
236
683
1131
1265
1415
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
0.8
WNW
10
0.8
NNW
8
0.9
WNW
10
0.7
SW
16
0.7
WNW
9
0.7
SW
16
0.6
SSW
14
0.9
SSW
15
1
SSW
17
1
SSW
17
0.9
SSW
16
0.2
S
10
0.9
SSW
16
0.1
S
10
0.1
NW
24
0.7
SSW
14
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
1.6
NW
8
Energy kJ
154
154
133
76
151
258
78
255
140
344
524
563
424
8
348
2
22
183
158
110
346
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.6
SW
16
0.7
SW
16
0.7
NNW
8
0.7
NW
16
0.6
NW
8
0.5
SSW
18
0.3
SSE
11
0.3
S
11
0.2
S
10
0.2
S
10
0.1
S
10
0.7
WNW
21
0.6
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
0.5
SSW
14
Energy kJ
109
109
109
201
255
58
261
48
195
22
21
9
8
2
393
158
110
107
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.4
S
4
0.3
SSE
4
0.8
NW
6
3.5
NW
13
3
NW
13
3.5
NW
12
2.5
NW
11
2.5
NW
10
2.4
NW
10
1.8
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.2
NW
8
Energy kJ
5
3
38
3963
2914
3922
1514
1251
1007
497
611
665
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
3
4
5
3
4
2
2
4
4
1
4
Distance (km)
141
0
0
169
0
0
169
0
0
0
126
3
83
2325
29
243
2324
0
238
243
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
5
4
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
3
3
3
3
3
3
4
3
3
3
4
4
6
2
4
3
4
5
4
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
5
4
8
5
5
5
5
5
5
4
5
5
5
6
6
6
5
7
9
9
7
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
submit an eyeball surf report

Quick surf report for Third Reef:

join our community of surf reporters

FREE! Surf-Forecast.com widget for your website

The surf report / weather widget below is available to embed on third party websites free of charge and provides a summary of our Third Reef surf forecast. Simply grab the html code snippet that we provide and paste it into your own site. You can choose your preferred language and metric/imperial units for the surf forecast feed to suit users of your site. Click here to get the code.


Information about the Third Reef Surf forecast

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

Third Reef is 85 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.

Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest
Nearest locationNearest