Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 27 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 18s period, SSW swell with 887 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 27 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with SW swell.
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 Thursday (Aug 27) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.7m and 5s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Third Reef in the next 16 days are 1.2m 18s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.0m 13s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 03) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 27th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Sun 30th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 4ft (1.2m) 18s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G'day, Rusty here, from the beach. Look, I'm gonna level with you – the next couple of weeks are a write-off for any decent surf around here. The reef is just not firing. We've got a long stretch of poor conditions ahead, so don't get your hopes up.
The first week is pretty grim. From Thursday the 27th of August right through to the middle of the following week, it's all cross-onshore winds and choppy, messy waves. There's a bit of swell energy around, with the combined energy hitting moderate values, but it's all for nothing with the wind. You'll see the odd 5ft wave, but it's just slop. The period is long, around 15-18 seconds, which is a groundswell, but it's coming from the SSW, which isn't ideal for the break, and the wind just ruins it. The water temperature is about 59°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year.
We do get a little window of hope on Monday the 7th of September. The afternoon looks glassy with a light wind from the SSW, and the swell picks up to 6ft. That's a small window of very good surf conditions, so if you can get out there, it might be your best shot. The wave energy is moderate.
Then, Tuesday the 8th of September afternoon is also looking promising. The wind is a clean cross-off from the ESE, and we've got a 5ft swell from the NW. That's a solid, clean option. The period is only 8 seconds, so it's a bit short, but it'll be fun.
Overall, the standout is Monday the 7th of September afternoon. The glassy conditions and the 6ft swell from the NW will make for clean, rideable waves at Third Reef. It's not a huge swell, but it's the cleanest we're going to get. The combined energy is moderate. This is your best bet, but remember, it's a long way out, so keep an eye on it.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (light winds from the N on Thu night, fresh winds from the NW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sun afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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) | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SW 14 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 134 | 254 | 164 | 343 | 274 | 315 | 887 | 877 | 627 | 733 | 546 | 413 | 400 | 325 | 163 | 154 | 154 | 114 | 249 | 130 | 177 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:12PM1.57m | 11:29PM1.89m | 12:37PM1.64m | 00:11AM1.84m | 1:02PM1.71m | 00:55AM1.76m | 1:28PM1.78m | 1:42AM1.66m | 1:56PM1.84m | 2:34AM1.53m | 2:28PM1.89m | 3:33AM1.39m | 3:05PM1.92m | 4:47AM1.26m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:34PM0.67m | 6:13AM0.02m | 6:14PM0.55m | 6:41AM0.11m | 6:54PM0.44m | 7:10AM0.23m | 7:37PM0.33m | 7:39AM0.38m | 8:23PM0.24m | 8:09AM0.54m | 9:17PM0.17m | 8:43AM0.71m | 10:19PM0.12m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 |
Feels °C | 17 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | S 13 |
| kJ | 113 | 171 | 61 | 343 | 274 | 315 | 887 | 877 | 627 | 733 | 546 | 210 | 140 | 325 | 163 | 154 | 154 | 99 | 118 | 86 | 212 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 15 | W 12 | SW 14 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 9 | W 10 | W 11 | W 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | W 9 | NW 7 | S 13 | S 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | S 13 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 134 | 66 | 164 | 70 | 88 | 88 | 17 | 15 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 405 | 400 | 15 | 44 | 92 | 85 | 114 | 249 | 119 | 120 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | S 12 | S 11 | SW 13 | S 19 | SSE 10 | S 10 | — | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | SW 21 | S 17 | SSE 17 | SSE 16 | NW 7 | SW 18 | S 12 | SSW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 86 | 75 | 63 | 62 | 190 | 35 | 17 | — | 8 | 8 | 2 | 17 | 23 | 58 | 82 | 21 | 81 | 75 | 90 | 130 | 177 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | WNW 8 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | NW 7 | — | — | NW 10 | — | — | WNW 3 | — |
| kJ | 33 | 254 | 12 | 83 | 184 | 109 | 131 | 239 | 116 | 205 | 403 | 413 | — | 109 | — | — | 113 | — | — | 7 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 195 | 385 | 0 | 195 | 386 | 0 | 195 | 386 | 3 | 193 | 265 | 0 | 195 | 29 | 0 | 176 | 112 | 0 | 195 | 195 | 0 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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