Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 30 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 4 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 17s period, SSW swell with 717 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 30 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 8s period with NW 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 Sunday (Aug 30) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.3m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 1.0m and 15s 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 1.1m 17s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 04) 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 0.6m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Sun 30th Aug) | 7ft (2.1m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Fri 4th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright mate, Rusty here. Let’s break down the next couple of weeks.
Okay, so the surf is gonna be a bit of a slow burner, but there are a couple of days that’ll have you grinning. The 30th of August is a write-off with weak swell and a cross-onshore breeze, so don’t bother. The first real chance is Monday afternoon, the 31st of August – glassy conditions with a clean 1.0m (3ft) SSW swell. The water’s 58°, which is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing unusual.
The standout is Thursday the 3rd of September. The morning brings a 1.0m (3ft) SSW swell with a 19-second period – that’s proper groundswell, packing some serious energy. The wind is a light cross-off, so the waves will be clean. That afternoon it jumps to 1.6m (5ft) from the WNW, but the period drops to 10 seconds, so it’s a bit more of a windswell. Still, a clean session is a clean session. The morning of the 3rd is the pick of the bunch.
Then Saturday the 5th of September, afternoon session, is looking sweet with a 1.1m (4ft) SSW swell at 16 seconds, light cross-off wind, and clean conditions. That’s a good way to spend the weekend.
After that, things get small for a few days. The 9th of September Wednesday afternoon has a surprise 1.6m (5ft) from the WSW, but it’s only 9 seconds, so it’s a short-period windswell. It’s glassy, so it’ll be fun, but not a standout.
The big one to watch is the 14th of September – Monday afternoon. The swell hits 2.1m (7ft) from the NW, period is only 8 seconds, but the wind is dead calm, glassy. That’s expert territory, too big for beginners. The energy is strong. It’s over a week out, so it’s a wait-and-see, but it has potential.
Third Reef is a reef break, so it handles long-period swells well, and the optimum direction is WNW, which lines up with the bigger swells on the 3rd and 14th. Crowds can show up sometimes, so you might have some company.
The best bet is the morning of Thursday the 3rd of September. Clean, long-period groundswell, light cross-off wind, and a reef that’ll make it sing.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 16°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 10°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | |||||||||||||||
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) | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | WNW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 733 | 546 | 405 | 400 | 325 | 210 | 198 | 198 | 154 | 252 | 130 | 214 | 513 | 299 | 559 | 651 | 629 | 512 | 627 | 469 | 612 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | on | glassy | cross | cross-off | off | cross | cross-off | off | cross-off | on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 1:28PM1.78m | 1:42AM1.66m | 1:56PM1.84m | 2:34AM1.53m | 2:28PM1.89m | 3:33AM1.39m | 3:05PM1.92m | 4:47AM1.26m | 3:51PM1.93m | 6:22AM1.19m | 4:51PM1.92m | 8:01AM1.23m | 6:05PM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:37PM0.33m | 7:39AM0.38m | 8:23PM0.24m | 8:09AM0.54m | 9:17PM0.17m | 8:43AM0.71m | 10:19PM0.12m | 9:24AM0.86m | 11:29PM0.07m | 10:20AM0.98m | 00:44AM0.02m | 11:41AM1.05m | 1:56AM-0.06m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — |
 | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | — | 7:40 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 15 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 17 |
Feels °C | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 14 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SSW 16 | NW 8 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
| kJ | 186 | 546 | 169 | 107 | 325 | 210 | 124 | 122 | 88 | 83 | 70 | 62 | 181 | 299 | 296 | 651 | 629 | 286 | 198 | 469 | 612 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | W 11 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | WNW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | WNW 10 | S 10 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 11 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 733 | 10 | 405 | 400 | 73 | 32 | 198 | 198 | 154 | 252 | 130 | 214 | 513 | 248 | 559 | 175 | 55 | 512 | 627 | 88 | 159 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 11 | S 9 | S 9 | W 10 | WNW 10 | SSE 15 | SSE 13 | SSE 12 | SW 18 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 13 | S 11 | SW 15 | S 12 | NW 11 | NNW 10 | S 12 | S 11 | WNW 16 | W 12 |
| kJ | 21 | 7 | 2 | 17 | 19 | 42 | 58 | 49 | 111 | 89 | 85 | 90 | 35 | 109 | 137 | 166 | 39 | 106 | 61 | 25 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSE 3 | SSW 5 | SSW 5 | — | — | — | — | NW 11 | — | — | NW 9 | — |
| kJ | 318 | 320 | 354 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 22 | 20 | — | — | — | — | 458 | — | — | 242 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 195 | 386 | 0 | 126 | 126 | 0 | 67 | 0 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 3 | 196 | 195 | 0 | 195 | 386 | 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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