Surf Forecasts:
Third Reef surf forecast from 2 Aug 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, 2AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NW swell with 1,930 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 3 Aug, 5AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s 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 Monday (Aug 03) at 5AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 3.0m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 2.1m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 13s 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 3.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 03) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 12s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 02) at 5PM.
| Wave Type | Time (PDT) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 5AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Mon 3rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Third Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s break it down.
For the next 16 days, it’s all about Third Reef. This is a reef break that’s pretty reliable and likes a west-northwest swell. The first few days are a no-go.
Sunday, August 2nd is a mess. Swell is 7 to 8 feet from the northwest, but the wind is blowing 15-18 mph cross-on. The water is a bit colder than normal at 55°, and the energy is moderate (687 to 965). Choppy, lumpy – stay on the beach.
Monday, August 3rd starts similar, but Monday afternoon is your first real window. The wind drops to nothing – glassy – and you’ve got a clean 6-foot NW swell with a 9-second period. Energy is moderate (690) and conditions should be very good. That’s a session to chase.
Tuesday, August 4th drops to 5 feet with light onshore wind in the morning. Marginal, but doable.
Wednesday, August 5th sees the swell drop to 4 feet, but Wednesday afternoon goes glassy again. Small and clean.
Thursday, August 6th flips to a tiny 2-foot southwest groundswell with a long 14-second period. Weak energy (194 to 217) and light cross-on wind. Small, but that long period might make the reef work.
Friday, August 7th brings back a NW swell of 5 feet with cross-on wind in the morning, but Friday afternoon turns glassy again with a clean 5-foot wave.
The weekend of August 8th-9th builds the swell. Saturday afternoon hits 8 feet with strong energy (1155), but a light cross-on breeze keeps it a bit messy. Sunday, August 9th pushes the swell to 8 feet with a 10-second period (energy at 1343), but the wind is cross-on at 9-12 mph, making it choppy. That size is expert territory, and the wind isn’t helping.
Monday, August 10th afternoon is the next big one. Glassy again, with a solid 7-foot NW swell and a 9-second period. Strong energy (933) and very good conditions expected.
From Tuesday, August 11th through Friday, August 14th, the swell hangs around 4 to 6 feet from the northwest, mostly with light cross-on breezes. Solid but not special, except for Friday, August 14th afternoon which goes glassy with a clean 4-foot wave.
Then from Saturday, August 15th, a new southwest groundswell arrives – very long period at 16-17 seconds, but tiny, only 3 to 3 feet. The energy is moderate (601 to 845), but the wind picks up to 12-15 mph from the northwest, making it choppy and poor. This stretch is more for the kite surfers.
The best calls are Monday afternoon, August 3rd and Monday afternoon, August 10th. Glassy conditions with clean, solid NW swell around 6 to 7 feet. That’s where you’ll find the best waves.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 12°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NW on Sun afternoon, calm by Mon afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 18°C on Fri afternoon, min 13°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | Tuesday 4 | Wednesday 5 | Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SSW 13 | SW 18 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 10 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 582 | 846 | 1930 | 660 | 619 | 1028 | 336 | 256 | 300 | 255 | 205 | 95 | 91 | 85 | 113 | 80 | 200 | 133 | 437 | 822 | 932 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | glassy | cross | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-off | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:52PM1.67m | 2:32AM1.55m | 3:21PM1.74m | 3:29AM1.40m | 3:54PM1.81m | 4:39AM1.25m | 4:34PM1.87m | 6:09AM1.15m | 5:24PM1.94m | 7:52AM1.15m | 6:25PM2.00m | 9:17AM1.22m | 7:32PM2.07m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:17AM0.14m | 8:45PM0.60m | 8:47AM0.30m | 9:41PM0.49m | 9:20AM0.47m | 10:44PM0.37m | 9:57AM0.64m | 11:53PM0.24m | 10:43AM0.80m | 1:04AM0.09m | 11:43AM0.93m | 2:13AM-0.06m | 12:59PM1.00m | 3:17AM-0.21m | |||||||
 | |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:15 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — |
 | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:27 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:23 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 23 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 20 | 22 |
Feels °C | 16 | 17 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | SSW 13 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | SSW 18 | SW 13 | NW 8 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 |
| kJ | 92 | 70 | 1026 | 660 | 619 | 479 | 336 | 256 | 300 | 255 | 205 | 84 | 58 | 58 | 84 | 23 | 133 | 82 | 214 | 240 | 146 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | SW 14 | SW 14 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 16 | SSW 17 | SW 12 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 46 | 45 | 44 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 86 | 79 | 76 | 73 | 99 | 40 | 44 | 43 | 113 | 57 | 80 | 133 | 235 | 21 | 36 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 12 | SSW 12 | SSW 12 | SW 12 | S 13 | SSW 11 | SW 14 | SW 14 | SW 13 | SW 18 | SW 18 | S 12 | SSW 19 | SSW 13 | W 13 | SW 23 |
| kJ | 13 | 49 | 49 | 44 | 41 | 24 | 14 | 14 | 22 | 31 | 12 | 95 | 91 | 85 | 82 | 80 | 11 | 74 | 65 | 31 | 21 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 10 | — | — | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 7 | NW 7 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 10 |
| kJ | 582 | 846 | 1930 | — | — | 1028 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 71 | 200 | 131 | 437 | 822 | 932 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 243 | 729 | 3 | 169 | 0 | 3 | 120 | 48 | 0 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 196 | 749 | 0 | 195 | 0 | 0 | 63 | 48 | 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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