Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 13 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SSW swell with 629 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 13 Aug, 8AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s 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 Thursday (Aug 13) at 8AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m and 16s. 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 1.0m 17s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 11s period and expected on Monday (Aug 17) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 8AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's chew the fat on what Third Reef is offering over the next couple of weeks.
Look, I'm gonna level with you – the next week or so is mostly a write-off. There's some swell, sure, but the wind is just not your friend. The water temp is about what you'd expect for this time of year.
Thursday the 13th brings a 5-foot NW swell with a short 8-second period. The wave energy is moderate (525-561), but the wind is on or cross-onshore, so you're looking at bumpy, rippled water. Hard pass.
Friday the 14th drops way down to 2 to 2 feet from the SSW, with a long 15-19 second period. Again, cross-onshore wind and messy conditions.
Now, hold up. Sunday the 16th afternoon is a tiny silver lining. The swell is a small 3 feet from the SSW with a nice long 16-second period, and the wind goes glassy. That's your clean, smooth session, even if it's small. It's not a standout for size, but for quality, it's the best we've got.
Then things go south. From Monday the 17th through to Saturday the 22nd morning, it's all poor to marginal. The wind stays cross-onshore and the swell fades. Saturday the 22nd morning is a real low point with only 2 feet and a 13-second period, plus a bumpy breeze.
But here's the real highlight: Saturday the 22nd afternoon! We get glassy conditions again, this time with a 5-foot NW swell (8-second period). It's short-period, but the wave energy is moderate (420), and with the wind dropping to nothing, it could shape up into a fun, clean little wave. That's your session to circle on the calendar.
After that, it's back to the struggle. Sunday the 23rd through Friday the 28th is mostly poor. A lot of moderate cross-onshore winds, choppy water, and small swell. Thursday the 27th afternoon sees a solid 6-foot NW swell (7-second period, moderate energy 719), but the wind is up to 12 mph and cross-onshore, making it a lumpy, messy wave. On those days, you might be better off with a kite than a paddleboard.
Bottom line: don't get your hopes up too high. The standout is that glassy session on the afternoon of Saturday the 22nd. The longer-range stuff has some size, but the wind is a question mark. I'll be at Third Reef that Saturday afternoon, hoping it comes together.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Very mild (max 17°C on Wed night, min 12°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Tue afternoon, min 11°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 373 | 289 | 291 | 245 | 232 | 210 | 360 | 629 | 505 | 539 | 620 | 512 | 334 | 330 | 334 | 334 | 178 | 252 | 226 |
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 | glassy | on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 11:32PM2.16m | 1:02PM1.70m | 00:26AM2.05m | 1:38PM1.77m | 1:18AM1.90m | 2:13PM1.81m | 2:11AM1.71m | 2:47PM1.83m | 3:06AM1.52m | 3:22PM1.81m | 4:06AM1.35m | 3:58PM1.78m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:30AM-0.30m | 6:27PM0.56m | 7:09AM-0.16m | 7:20PM0.47m | 7:46AM0.03m | 8:12PM0.41m | 8:22AM0.24m | 9:06PM0.37m | 8:57AM0.45m | 10:03PM0.35m | 9:32AM0.66m | 11:05PM0.34m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | |
 | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — |
 | 8:16 | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:14 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 17 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 18 | 23 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 8 | SW 16 | NW 7 | NW 7 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | SSW 17 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 186 | 289 | 255 | 126 | 99 | 140 | 51 | 629 | 505 | 539 | 620 | 512 | 334 | 330 | 334 | 334 | 178 | 252 | 226 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 16 | SW 16 | WNW 12 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 19 | SSW 18 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NW 5 | WNW 9 | NW 6 | NW 7 | S 11 | WNW 8 | SSW 17 | WNW 15 | WNW 13 |
| kJ | 173 | 206 | 15 | 245 | 232 | 210 | 360 | 19 | 21 | 88 | 15 | 29 | 47 | 65 | 9 | 22 | 100 | 42 | 102 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | WNW 12 | S 11 | SSW 21 | SSW 20 | W 11 | SW 14 | WNW 5 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 | W 10 | S 12 | WNW 9 | W 9 | S 19 | WNW 13 | WNW 15 | S 10 | SSW 13 |
| kJ | 102 | 30 | 9 | 86 | 149 | 9 | 214 | 9 | 6 | 10 | 47 | 24 | 26 | 40 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 2 | 67 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | — | NW 8 | NW 7 | — | NW 7 | — | — | NW 5 | NW 5 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 7 |
| kJ | 373 | — | 291 | 237 | — | 82 | — | — | 33 | 38 | 44 | 67 | 124 | 149 | 183 | 64 | 174 | 246 | 132 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 3 | 169 | 386 | 0 | 169 | 257 | 0 | 195 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 0 | 0 | 191 | 3 | 3 | 191 | 386 | 3 |
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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