Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 7 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 10 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 17s period, SW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 13 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, NW swell with 580 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 7 Sep, 5AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 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 Monday (Sep 07) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.8m and 5s. Another secondary swell of 1.3m and 6s 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 1.9m 9s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 13) 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 1.0m 12s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 08) at 8PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 7th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 8PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 17s |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and let me tell ya, it’s been a bit of a slow dance for swell at Third Reef. We’ve got a 16-day window, but the first few days are looking pretty ordinary. For the next week, there’s some small, long-period groundswell coming in, but it’s mostly cross-onshore or choppy, so not much to get excited about.
The real standout in this whole period is shaping up for Thursday, 10 September. That afternoon, the wind drops to absolutely glassy – dead calm, zero wind – and we’ll see a 3 ft swell from the SW, with a long 17-second period. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (900). That’s the kind of clean, lined-up reef surf that’ll have you grinning. The swell is coming from the SSW, which is a bit off the optimum WNW direction, but with that glassy surface and a decent period, Third Reef should still offer some sweet, long walls. The water temp is 59°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Across the rest of the first week, Tuesday morning 8 September has a chance with a 2 ft glassy swell (240 energy), and Thursday morning 10 September shows a 3 ft cross-onshore bump (683 energy), but nothing beats that Thursday afternoon. The weekend after that gets messy with strong winds and lumpy, short-period chop – on Saturday 12 September the swell jumps to 6 ft but with a 7-second period and fresh cross-onshore winds, it’s poor. That stretch of poor conditions continues through to Monday 14 September, with moderate cross-onshore winds and short-period swell.
Looking into the second week, there’s a promising but less certain moment on Saturday 19 September. The afternoon shows a 2 ft SW swell with 18-second period and glassy wind (666 energy) – that could be a beauty if it holds. The following Monday 21 September afternoon also has a 3 ft SW swell with glassy conditions (513 energy), another solid option.
Honestly, if you’ve got a window, aim for Thursday 10 September afternoon. That’s the cleanest, most lined-up surf of the whole outlook. The rest? A few small windows, but nothing that’ll have you calling in sick.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed morning, min 12°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Wed night, min 11°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | ||||||||||||||
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 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | SW 19 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 8 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 405 | 236 | 236 | 223 | 120 | 161 | 168 | 166 | 132 | 368 | 312 | 424 | 493 | 496 | 483 | 465 | 377 | 305 | 353 | 427 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-off | on | cross-on | cross-off | on | on | cross-off | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:25PM1.94m | 9:55AM1.43m | 8:38PM1.98m | 10:34AM1.54m | 9:41PM2.01m | 11:10AM1.66m | 10:38PM2.00m | 11:44AM1.75m | 11:32PM1.95m | 12:16PM1.83m | 00:23AM1.85m | 12:48PM1.87m | 1:13AM1.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:00AM-0.12m | 2:35PM0.93m | 3:53AM-0.16m | 3:43PM0.76m | 4:40AM-0.15m | 4:40PM0.58m | 5:22AM-0.09m | 5:31PM0.41m | 6:00AM0.02m | 6:18PM0.27m | 6:35AM0.17m | 7:03PM0.17m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — |
 | 7:39 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:30 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 15 |
Feels °C | 15 | 13 | 16 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 11 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | NW 7 | SSE 13 | NW 7 | NW 8 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SSW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SSW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 405 | 236 | 63 | 236 | 102 | 79 | 190 | 225 | 155 | 86 | 312 | 424 | 493 | 496 | 483 | 465 | 377 | 305 | 301 | 214 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 16 | SSE 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | S 13 | S 13 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | SW 19 | NW 12 | NW 7 | S 10 | NW 8 | S 9 | S 8 | WNW 10 | NW 11 | S 10 | SW 14 |
| kJ | 126 | 163 | 236 | 223 | 229 | 209 | 77 | 65 | 71 | 368 | 147 | 77 | 94 | 99 | 54 | 33 | 36 | 58 | 8 | 241 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 11 | NW 8 | SSE 13 | NW 12 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 11 | NW 7 | S 11 | WNW 11 | SSW 10 | WNW 10 | WSW 16 | NW 12 | WSW 13 | WSW 18 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 45 | 35 | 141 | 37 | 120 | 161 | 168 | 166 | 132 | 82 | 44 | 154 | 101 | 128 | 67 | 25 | 34 | 35 | 31 | 38 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 5 | NW 5 | — | NW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 7 | NW 8 |
| kJ | 60 | 25 | — | 94 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 121 | 223 | 191 | 255 | 136 | 188 | 353 | 427 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 385 | 3 | 138 | 3 | 0 | 141 | 48 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 195 | 0 | 3 | 243 | 386 | 3 | 283 | 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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