Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 3 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 3 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NW swell with 1,782 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 31 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s 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 Friday (Jul 31) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 6s. 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) 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 0.8m 18s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Fri 31st Jul) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about Third Reef.
Honestly, this is a rough stretch. The first week and a half is just about a total loss. The wind is all cross-onshore, mostly from the NW and NNW, blowing at 10 to 19 mph, and it’s got the surface all lumpy and choppy. The water is 61°F, which is about 5°F warmer than usual for this time of year, so that’s a bit of a surprise, but it doesn’t make the surf any better. The swell is showing up, starting from the SSW then swinging to the NW, with periods from 7 to 18 seconds, so there is some groundswell in there, but the wind is just wrecking it. The combined wave energy numbers are moderate to strong (1114, 1228, 791, 769, and so on) but it’s all useless. Wave heights start around 4 ft and go up to 8 ft on Sunday 2 August. That 8 ft is no joke, only for experts, but with that cross-on wind making it lumpy, even the good guys are going to have a bad time. It’s a reef break, and the ideal swell direction is WNW, but the wind is never cooperating.
There is one bright spot, but you have to wait for it. The only real standout is Saturday 8 August morning. The wind goes glassy – just 3 mph from the SW – and the swell is 6 ft from the NW with a 9-second period. The wave energy is moderate at 608. The surf report says “expect very good surf conditions.” That’s the one you want. The swell is a little pushy for beginners, but for intermediates, under those clean, glassy conditions, Third Reef should be really fun. The crowds are listed as “sometimes,” so you might share it with a few others, but it’s not a madhouse. The swell direction is NW, not the perfect WNW, but it’s close enough to work.
After that, it’s patchy. Sunday 9 August afternoon has another glassy window with 4 ft NW swell, but the energy is lower (469) and the quality drops to “good.” Monday 10 August onward is back to cross-on wind and poor conditions.
So, the bottom line: the first 10 days are a write-off. The only real chance is the morning of Saturday 8 August. If you can hold out, that’s the session. After that, there’s nothing else that lines up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri afternoon, min 12°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | |||||||||||||||
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 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 789 | 1081 | 921 | 635 | 539 | 441 | 419 | 568 | 171 | 301 | 239 | 138 | 226 | 377 | 481 | 699 | 931 | 929 | 636 | 764 | 447 |
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 | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 12:35PM1.40m | 11:00PM1.95m | 1:05PM1.45m | 11:40PM1.93m | 1:33PM1.50m | 00:19AM1.88m | 2:00PM1.55m | 1:00AM1.80m | 2:26PM1.61m | 1:44AM1.69m | 2:52PM1.67m | 2:32AM1.55m | 3:21PM1.74m | 3:29AM1.40m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:08PM0.94m | 6:19AM-0.17m | 5:49PM0.89m | 6:50AM-0.15m | 6:30PM0.83m | 7:19AM-0.09m | 7:12PM0.77m | 7:48AM0.00m | 7:57PM0.69m | 8:17AM0.14m | 8:45PM0.60m | 8:47AM0.30m | 9:41PM0.49m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |  | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:11 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — |
 | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 23 | 20 | 20 | 25 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 17 | 20 | 23 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 |
Feels °C | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 13 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 17 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | S 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 14 | S 15 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 |
| kJ | 789 | 1081 | 921 | 635 | 539 | 441 | 419 | 568 | 159 | 301 | 239 | 132 | 155 | 176 | 145 | 71 | 69 | 44 | 44 | 44 | 41 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 21 | SSW 12 | S 20 | S 18 | S 18 | S 17 | S 16 | SSE 14 | SW 15 | SSE 15 | S 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 13 | S 11 | S 12 | SW 16 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 144 | 55 | 119 | 98 | 307 | 297 | 183 | 19 | 171 | 72 | 103 | 138 | 134 | 100 | 99 | 75 | 46 | 23 | 25 | 41 | 24 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 10 | — | SW 12 | SW 11 | SSW 11 | SSW 11 | SSE 14 | SSE 18 | SSE 16 | NW 10 | — | WNW 8 | SSE 13 | SW 20 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | S 12 | S 12 |
| kJ | 22 | — | 34 | 32 | 11 | 12 | 20 | 30 | 53 | 14 | — | 48 | 55 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 49 | 49 | 44 | 11 | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 5 | NW 9 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 8 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 |
| kJ | 159 | 92 | 126 | 124 | 219 | 232 | 136 | 181 | 62 | 87 | 210 | 80 | 226 | 377 | 481 | 699 | 931 | 929 | 636 | 764 | 447 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 283 | 386 | 29 | 195 | 385 | 3 | 195 | 385 | 3 | 195 | 386 | 3 | 265 | 385 | 29 | 265 | 386 | 3 | 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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