Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 16s period, SSW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 22 Aug, 11PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 8s period, NW swell with 413 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.7m), 14s period with SSW 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.7m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Third Reef in the next 16 days are 1.9m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 22) at 11PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.6m 14s period and expected on Monday (Aug 24) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 2.5ft (0.7m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 11PM (Tue 18th Aug) | 3ft (0.9m) 16s |
| Most Powerful | 11PM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break down Third Reef for the next sixteen days.
It’s a mixed bag, honestly. There’s swell in the water, but the wind is going to be a real headache a lot of the time. You’ll need to pick your moments.
The one to circle on your calendar is Sunday the 23rd. The morning is only so-so, but the afternoon turns glassy. Dead calm, no wind, and a clean 4ft swell from the NW. The wave energy is moderate at 492. That’s going to be the cleanest, most fun session of the whole period.
Then on Monday the 24th of August, you get another glassy moment in the afternoon. The swell is smaller, only 2ft, but it’s a long-period groundswell from the SW at 18 seconds. That’s pure energy (278) and on a reef, it’ll wrap in with some shape. Good for a longboard on a quiet day.
After that, things get ugly. From Wednesday the 26th on, the wind is onshore and strong, from the NW at 20 to 30 mph. The swell builds to 6ft, but it’s choppy and lumpy. The energy is moderate to strong (up to 733), but honestly, it’s going to look more like a kite-surfing day than a paddle session.
The last little pulse of note is on Tuesday the 1st of September. The afternoon shows a 4ft swell from the WNW, but the wind is still a moderate cross-onshore at 25 mph. It’s messy, but it’s the last decent size before the forecast runs out.
So, your best bet is that Sunday afternoon glass-off on the 23rd. That’s the one. The Monday afternoon is a sleeper for small-wave gear. The rest is a fight against the wind.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed afternoon, min 12°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Sat night, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | NW 10 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | NW 7 | NW 8 | SW 19 | NW 8 | SW 18 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 334 | 178 | 252 | 291 | 270 | 305 | 314 | 233 | 226 | 236 | 178 | 310 | 99 | 99 | 173 | 250 | 250 | 244 | 155 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | on | glassy | glassy |
High Tide | 4:06AM1.35m | 3:58PM1.78m | 5:19AM1.21m | 4:39PM1.74m | 6:54AM1.14m | 5:29PM1.71m | 8:32AM1.16m | 6:29PM1.70m | 9:37AM1.22m | 7:32PM1.73m | 10:19AM1.28m | 8:30PM1.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:03PM0.35m | 9:32AM0.66m | 11:05PM0.34m | 10:11AM0.83m | 00:11AM0.32m | 10:57AM0.96m | 1:18AM0.28m | 11:59AM1.05m | 2:21AM0.22m | 1:13PM1.08m | 3:15AM0.14m | 2:23PM1.05m | 4:00AM0.07m | ||||||
 | | |  | | | | | |  | | | |  | | | |  | | |
 | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | 8:09 | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:05 | — | — | 8:02 | — | — | 8:01 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 14 |
Feels °C | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | SSW 13 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 334 | 178 | 252 | 291 | 270 | 305 | 314 | 189 | 170 | 133 | 117 | 101 | 78 | 55 | 67 | 250 | 250 | 244 | 138 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 15 | WNW 13 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | WNW 12 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | S 14 | SW 19 | SW 18 | S 16 |
| kJ | 65 | 24 | 84 | 101 | 157 | 158 | 196 | 233 | 226 | 236 | 178 | 111 | 99 | 99 | 111 | 104 | 231 | 166 | 124 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | S 10 | SSW 13 | SW 20 | SW 21 | — | SW 19 | SW 19 | NNW 6 | SW 19 | WNW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | WNW 10 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 18 |
| kJ | 22 | 100 | 2 | 98 | 16 | 18 | — | 54 | 58 | 4 | 55 | 34 | 48 | 50 | 19 | 94 | 76 | 82 | 155 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 5 | WNW 5 | NW 4 | NW 10 | NW 4 | NW 6 | NW 7 | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | 73 | 181 | 112 | 183 | 225 | 79 | 61 | 80 | 14 | 15 | 310 | 12 | 39 | 173 | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 191 | 3 | 3 | 195 | 3 | 3 | 211 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 195 | 0 | 243 | 3 | 0 | 141 | 0 | 0 |
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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