Third Reef surfForecast / CAL – Humboldt / USA

information circle16 Day Weather and Surf, issued 4 am Sunday 17 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
10.8° C
(Which is 1.1°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 Monday (May 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s. 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 2.5m 13s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (May 20) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 14s period and expected on Sunday (May 17) at 11AM.

Wave TypeTime (PDT) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 8AM (Mon 18th May)6ft (1.8m) 9s
Best Surf 2AM (Wed 20th May)8ft (2.5m) 13s
Most Powerful 5AM (Wed 20th May)8ft (2.5m) 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. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 9°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sun afternoon, light winds from the NNE by Mon morning).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed afternoon, min 10°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
17
Monday
18
Tuesday
19
Wednesday
20
Thursday
21
Friday
22
Saturday
23
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
2
1
0
3
1
0
5
1
1
3
2
3
2
0
1
3
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)
2.5
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
2.1
NW
10
2.3
NW
9
2
NW
9
2
NW
9
2.1
NW
14
1.3
WNW
13
2.5
NW
13
1.9
NW
12
2.3
NW
12
1.7
NW
9
1.9
NW
11
2.1
NW
10
1.7
NW
10
1.8
NW
9
1.9
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.3
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.1
NW
10
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1126
1069
761
850
623
665
1836
624
2031
1088
1374
513
804
893
557
573
554
671
846
718
817
Wind (km/h)
35
NNW
35
NNW
20
NNE
20
NW
30
NNW
20
NNE
15
NW
30
NNW
15
NNE
15
NW
25
NNW
15
NNE
10
NW
0
NW
15
NNE
20
NW
10
NW
15
N
20
NW
20
NW
15
NNE
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
cross-on
cross
cross-off
cross-on
glassy
cross-off
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-off
High Tide
1:18PM1.44m
11:55PM2.16m
2:15PM1.42m
00:44AM2.12m
3:13PM1.40m
1:37AM2.01m
4:11PM1.40m
2:34AM1.85m
5:10PM1.42m
3:39AM1.66m
6:06PM1.47m
4:54AM1.46m
6:57PM1.54m
Low Tide
5:57PM0.76m
7:19AM-0.70m
6:46PM0.82m
8:11AM-0.66m
7:40PM0.87m
9:06AM-0.55m
8:45PM0.89m
10:03AM-0.39m
10:05PM0.87m
11:00AM-0.22m
11:32PM0.79m
11:55AM-0.04m
00:54AM0.63m
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
5:58
5:58
5:56
5:56
5:56
5:54
5:54
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:25
8:27
8:28
8:29
8:30
8:30
8:30
Temp °C
14
16
14
17
19
15
19
21
16
18
21
16
16
16
16
15
15
13
14
16
16
6
6
8
12
13
10
15
14
12
15
15
12
14
16
15
12
13
11
11
12
12
Swell 1
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.5
S
14
0.4
SSW
14
2.1
NW
10
1.7
NW
9
0.6
WNW
17
1.1
WNW
16
2.1
NW
14
1.3
WNW
13
1.9
NW
13
1.9
NW
12
0.4
SW
16
1.2
WNW
11
1.9
NW
11
2.1
NW
10
1
WNW
10
0.5
SW
18
0.5
SW
18
1.5
NW
9
1.7
NW
9
0.6
SSW
16
0.6
SSW
16
Energy kJ
106
65
761
492
197
589
1836
624
1223
1025
89
329
804
893
216
154
154
351
471
169
169
Swell 2
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
SW
18
0.1
SW
18
0.4
SSW
13
0.4
SSW
13
0.3
S
16
0.4
SW
17
0.3
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.4
SW
16
0.5
SW
21
0.4
S
14
0.5
SW
15
0.6
SW
19
0.4
SW
15
0.5
SW
16
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.5
SW
15
0.6
SSW
16
0.3
S
13
0.3
S
12
Energy kJ
13
12
60
58
46
76
42
69
96
224
59
113
303
82
118
110
110
109
166
29
26
Swell 3
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
0.1
S
20
0.1
S
18
0.1
SW
18
0.3
WNW
18
0.3
SSW
13
0.3
S
16
0.3
S
15
0.3
S
15
0.3
S
15
0.4
SW
16
0.2
SSW
21
0.4
S
14
0.4
SW
15
0.4
S
13
0.4
S
13
0.4
S
13
0.4
S
13
0.4
S
12
0.4
S
13
0.1
SW
21
0.1
SW
21
Energy kJ
7
6
13
64
34
46
41
39
38
65
44
57
79
54
53
51
50
48
52
18
18
Wind waves
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
2.5
NW
9
2.5
NW
9
2.3
NW
9
2
NW
9
2
NW
9
2.3
NW
9
1.8
NW
8
2.5
NW
13
2.5
NW
9
2.3
NW
12
1.7
NW
9
1.7
NW
10
1.8
NW
9
1.9
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.3
NW
9
2.1
NW
9
2.1
NW
10
Energy kJ
1126
1069
850
623
665
816
413
2031
1088
1374
513
557
573
554
671
846
718
817
Nearest Offshore or Glassy
Rating
(10 max)
4
4
3
2
1
4
4
3
5
2
4
3
4
3
3
3
1
4
3
3
4
Distance (km)
283
386
3
180
385
3
211
386
0
180
211
0
138
0
3
169
243
3
169
48
0
Best forecast wave conditions in Humboldt County
Rating
(10 max)
3
4
5
4
4
3
4
4
Best forecast wave conditions in United States
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
5
4
3
4
4
3
5
4
4
4
4
4
3
3
3
4
3
4
4
Header Global
Rating
(10 max)
6
4
5
4
4
4
4
4
4
5
4
5
5
4
4
5
6
4
5
4
4
  • 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