Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s period, SW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 11 Sep, 2PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 16s period, SW swell with 558 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 10 Sep, 11PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 16s 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 (Sep 10) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 1.6m and 7s 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 16s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Sep 11) at 2PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.7m 9s period and expected on Friday (Sep 11) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 2PM (Fri 11th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 16s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming.
We start strong on Thursday afternoon, September 10th, at Third Reef. This reef break is fairly consistent, and the setup is sweet. Water’s sitting at 58°F, right about average for the season. Swell is 3 ft out of the SW, with a gorgeous 17-second period – that’s groundswell energy, long lines, and easy paddling between sets. Wind is glassy from the WNW at 3 mph, so the surface is clean as a whistle. Combined energy is moderate at 745. This is the real deal.
Friday the 11th and Saturday the 12th go south fast. Cross-onshore winds from the NW at 9 to 19 mph chop everything up. Swell stays around 3 ft but period drops and the wind kills any quality. Poor conditions.
Sunday the 13th and Monday the 14th are a write-off too: fresh cross-onshore winds, NW swell at 4 ft to 6 ft, but period is short at 8-9 seconds. Lumpy, choppy, no fun.
Tuesday the 15th morning sees the swell jump to 7 ft from the NW, still short period (8 seconds). That’s expert-only size, and with cross-onshore winds it’s marginal at best. Combined energy is 1011 (moderate-strong), but quality is poor. The rest of the week stays messy.
Thursday afternoon the 17th brings a turnaround. Swell drops to 2 ft but it’s clean SSW groundswell with 16 seconds, glassy wind. Combined energy 453. Good, but small – fun for a log.
Friday the 18th afternoon is another highlight: glassy, 2 ft SW swell with an extra-long 19-second period. Combined energy 602. Very good conditions. Saturday the 19th morning stays glassy with 2 ft, 18-second SW swell.
The biggest standout in the second week is Monday afternoon September 21st. Dead calm, 3 ft SW swell, 17-second period, combined energy 736. That’s glassy perfection. Tuesday the 22nd and Wednesday the 23rd mornings also deliver glassy conditions with 3 ft SW swell at 16 seconds. These are the sessions to plan for.
Wednesday the 23rd afternoon switches to glassy, 5 ft from the NW with a 10-second period, combined energy 714. More size, still clean, but shorter period.
Thursday the 24th through Friday the 25th is mostly marginal with light cross breezes, but Friday the 25th afternoon closes with glassy 3 ft SSW swell at 14 seconds, combined energy 549 – very good.
Best bets: Thursday September 10th afternoon and Monday September 21st afternoon through Wednesday September 23rd morning. Crowds are possible (sometimes) at Third Reef, so get there early. Beginners are fine on the smaller 2-3 ft days, but the 7 ft on Tuesday the 15th is for experts only.
A few rough days in the middle, but plenty to get excited about.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Fri morning, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu night, fresh winds from the WNW by Sat afternoon). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Mon afternoon, min 11°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NE by Wed morning). | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | ||||||||||||||
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 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 553 | 496 | 477 | 459 | 418 | 412 | 301 | 293 | 314 | 357 | 243 | 291 | 413 | 188 | 542 | 326 | 292 | 177 | 163 | 142 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | glassy |
High Tide | 11:32PM1.95m | 12:16PM1.83m | 00:23AM1.85m | 12:48PM1.87m | 1:13AM1.73m | 1:19PM1.88m | 2:03AM1.60m | 1:51PM1.86m | 2:55AM1.46m | 2:22PM1.81m | 3:52AM1.33m | 2:57PM1.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:31PM0.41m | 6:00AM0.02m | 6:18PM0.27m | 6:35AM0.17m | 7:03PM0.17m | 7:09AM0.35m | 7:47PM0.13m | 7:41AM0.53m | 8:33PM0.13m | 8:13AM0.70m | 9:22PM0.17m | 8:45AM0.85m | 10:16PM0.22m | |||||||
 |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:27 | — | — | 7:24 | — | — | 7:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 18 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 17 | 20 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Feels °C | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 17 | SW 17 | NW 8 | SW 16 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 553 | 496 | 477 | 459 | 418 | 412 | 301 | 142 | 203 | 183 | 116 | 84 | 106 | 147 | 284 | 122 | 160 | 177 | 163 | 142 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 10 | S 8 | SSW 8 | NW 9 | WNW 11 | NW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 17 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 17 | SW 12 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 18 |
| kJ | 137 | 128 | 51 | 21 | 42 | 79 | 134 | 293 | 186 | 57 | 127 | 107 | 83 | 39 | 140 | 23 | 87 | 121 | 121 | 104 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WSW 16 | WSW 16 | WSW 15 | WSW 13 | WSW 13 | WSW 12 | WSW 11 | WSW 11 | WSW 10 | WSW 9 | NW 15 | WNW 14 | NW 13 | S 21 | NW 12 | S 19 | SSW 19 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 101 | 68 | 53 | 87 | 85 | 60 | 33 | 29 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 54 | 18 | 45 | 81 | 37 | 118 | 115 | 71 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 4 | — | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 91 | 91 | 169 | 195 | 142 | 78 | 16 | — | 314 | 357 | 243 | 291 | 413 | 188 | 542 | 326 | 292 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 0 | 283 | 385 | 0 | 114 | 196 | 0 | 257 | 385 | 3 | 195 | 386 | 0 | 195 | 243 | 0 | 169 | 3 | 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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