Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 26 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★+): Wednesday 26 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Wednesday (Aug 26) at 11PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 16s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 4s 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 0.6m 13s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 02) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 11PM (Wed 26th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 16s |
| 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
Alright, grab your wettie and take a seat. We’ve only got the one spot lighting up in the window ahead – Third Reef – so let’s break down what’s on the menu. Right now, we are in a bit of a flat spell with mostly poor conditions. The first sniff of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t arrive until Saturday the 29th of August, but even that is marginal with a moderate cross-onshore breeze messing things up. The early part is best left to the fish.
The real story starts to build as we head into the first week of September. The period from Thursday the 3rd through to the end of the window is where we see the most consistent surf, though still nothing that’ll have you calling in sick to work. On Friday the 4th of September, we get the best push with a 6ft NW groundswell rolling in, carrying a solid swell period of 10 seconds and combined wave energy of 1130 – that’s moderate but punchy. Winds are light and variable in the morning, making for clean-ish conditions as the swell direction matches the optimum WNW direction for Third Reef. It’s not a world-class day, but for a reef break that’s fairly consistent, it’ll be the standout of the outlook – just keep an eye on the tide because it can get a bit fat if you hit it wrong.
As the days move into the second week, the surf backs off a little but stays rideable. Swell hangs around the 2ft to 3ft range with long-period SSW groundswell, and winds stay light to gentle – mornings often glassy with offshore flow. The water temp is about average for the time of year, so a 3/2 should do you fine.
There’s no epic swell on the horizon, and it’s a long-ish wait for the best conditions, but the forecasts can change. Given Third Reef is fairly consistent, it tends not to stay poor for long.
Keep the stoke, check the cam, and I’ll see you in the water.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed night, min 12°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat afternoon, min 11°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 203 | 201 | 186 | 134 | 230 | 222 | 343 | 274 | 315 | 887 | 877 | 627 | 733 | 546 | 405 | 400 | 325 | 210 | 154 | 154 | 114 |
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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:46AM1.49m | 10:47PM1.90m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:54PM0.79m | 5:43AM-0.02m | 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 | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:37 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — |
 | — | 7:57 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:53 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:49 | — | — | 7:47 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 19 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 20 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 15 | WNW 8 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 203 | 201 | 186 | 134 | 171 | 123 | 343 | 274 | 315 | 887 | 877 | 627 | 733 | 546 | 405 | 140 | 325 | 54 | 154 | 154 | 86 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 13 | W 12 | W 7 | S 13 | S 12 | SW 14 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | S 10 | S 9 | S 10 | W 11 | W 11 | SW 21 | SSW 14 | SW 19 | SSW 14 | NW 6 | NW 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 89 | 46 | 26 | 86 | 75 | 164 | 70 | 88 | 88 | 17 | 16 | 8 | 21 | 9 | 17 | 400 | 14 | 210 | 31 | 35 | 114 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | SSW 12 | W 12 | W 11 | W 12 | S 11 | SW 13 | S 19 | SSE 10 | S 10 | — | W 12 | S 10 | S 9 | W 16 | SW 20 | S 14 | W 9 | SSE 14 | SSE 14 | S 13 |
| kJ | 75 | 48 | 69 | 59 | 66 | 63 | 62 | 190 | 35 | 17 | — | 11 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 4 | 15 | 39 | 69 | 89 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NW 4 | NW 4 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | — | NW 7 | — | — | NW 6 | — |
| kJ | 3 | 35 | 4 | 113 | 230 | 222 | 85 | 178 | 64 | 149 | 275 | 143 | 152 | 353 | 160 | — | 153 | — | — | 28 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 211 | 195 | 0 | 257 | 257 | 0 | 195 | 386 | 0 | 386 | 749 | 3 | 243 | 386 | 0 | 243 | 195 | 0 | 193 | 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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