Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 12 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 16 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 17 Jul, 2AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 9s period, NW swell with 846 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 12 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s 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 (Jul 12) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 15s. 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 2.3m 9s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Jul 17) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 18s period and expected on Sunday (Jul 12) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Sun 12th Jul) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 16th Jul) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Fri 17th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
Alright, let’s get into it. Rusty here, giving you the rundown on Third Reef.
Straight up, the first week’s a bust. Cross-onshore winds are in control from Saturday the 11th right through to Friday the 17th, making a mess of everything. The swells are there, but it’s choppy, lumpy, and not worth paddling out for.
The light finally turns on Saturday the 18th of July. The afternoon goes glassy, with waves at 1.5m from the NW, a 10-second period, and a solid 1050 energy reading. That’s clean, pushy, and rideable – the best window of the entire forecast. Don’t miss it.
After that, it gets interesting. Sunday the 19th afternoon also goes glassy, with a 0.8m SW groundswell, a long 17-second period, and energy at 762. That’s a classic reef-swell combo – smooth, long lines. Monday the 20th afternoon turns glassy too, with 1.6m NW swell, 9-second period, and 733 energy. Good stuff.
Looking further out, Wednesday the 23rd afternoon goes glassy with 1.9m NW swell, and Thursday the 25th afternoon goes glassy with a 0.7m SW swell, 20-second period, and 740 energy. Both are promising, but it’s a long way off – treat them as a heads-up for now.
Water temp is 54°F, which is about 2°F cooler than average for this time of year. Nothing wild, just a reminder to bring a good wetsuit.
So, the first week is a write-off. The real action kicks off Saturday the 18th afternoon. That’s your best bet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun afternoon, min 14°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Tue afternoon, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | Thursday 16 | Friday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 14 | SSW 15 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 6 | SW 18 | SW 18 | NW 6 | WNW 20 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | WNW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 330 | 334 | 309 | 365 | 284 | 229 | 216 | 247 | 139 | 109 | 213 | 194 | 239 | 181 | 218 | 423 | 582 | 846 | 461 | 384 | 371 |
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-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 10:22AM1.25m | 8:48PM2.18m | 11:19AM1.34m | 9:44PM2.26m | 12:11PM1.42m | 10:39PM2.29m | 12:57PM1.50m | 11:34PM2.26m | 1:41PM1.57m | 00:29AM2.16m | 2:22PM1.63m | 1:24AM2.00m | 3:03PM1.69m | 2:20AM1.80m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:23PM0.92m | 4:26AM-0.45m | 3:31PM0.93m | 5:18AM-0.56m | 4:34PM0.90m | 6:07AM-0.60m | 5:35PM0.84m | 6:53AM-0.56m | 6:33PM0.77m | 7:38AM-0.45m | 7:31PM0.71m | 8:20AM-0.27m | 8:32PM0.64m | ||||||||
 | |  | |  | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:43 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 14 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 9 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 14 | W 14 | WNW 9 | SW 18 | W 13 | SW 16 | WNW 19 | WNW 19 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 330 | 334 | 279 | 217 | 223 | 225 | 127 | 118 | 139 | 69 | 104 | 70 | 194 | 87 | 161 | 205 | 203 | 461 | 461 | 384 | 235 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | W 19 | S 19 | S 18 | S 18 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 15 | SW 19 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 18 | W 13 | SW 17 | WNW 20 | SW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 18 | WNW 17 | WNW 17 | WNW 16 |
| kJ | 94 | 7 | 29 | 25 | 25 | 229 | 66 | 76 | 133 | 51 | 61 | 194 | 89 | 103 | 218 | 159 | 159 | 318 | 344 | 313 | 371 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 18 | W 19 | W 16 | W 18 | W 15 | W 16 | W 14 | S 16 | WNW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | S 13 | WNW 20 | WNW 13 | SW 21 | SSW 21 | SW 15 | SW 19 | SW 19 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 6 | 7 | 5 | 25 | 4 | 46 | 33 | 45 | 70 | 44 | 113 | 65 | 53 | 135 | 31 | 70 | 42 | 145 | 296 | 179 | 74 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | — | — | — |
| kJ | 18 | 111 | 309 | 365 | 284 | 215 | 216 | 247 | 131 | 109 | 213 | 36 | 239 | 181 | 160 | 423 | 582 | 846 | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 211 | 3 | 29 | 283 | 699 | 0 | 195 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 195 | 0 | 283 | 386 | 29 | 211 | 3 | 3 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in United States | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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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