
Surf Forecasts:
Reef surf forecast from 18 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Monday 20 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 7s period, NW swell with 67 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Reef this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Reef in the next 16 days are 0.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 20) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 7s period and expected on Monday (Jul 20) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Mon 20th Jul) | 3ft (0.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let me level with you – the next two weeks at Reef are looking dry as a bone. There's no surf worth paddling out for in the whole 16-day run. This break is usually fairly consistent, so a stretch like this is a bit of a bummer, but it's not unheard of. The swell just never shows up properly, and when it does, the wind ruins it.
Starting Friday 17 July: a tiny 1.0 ft WNW swell, but a 15 mph NNW cross-on wind chops it up. Saturday the 18th has a 2 ft NW swell, but again cross-on wind, period only 4 seconds – no good. Sunday and Monday are similar: around 3 ft NW swell, cross-on wind, poor conditions. The combined energy stays low, in the 60–86 range (weak). Even Tuesday 21 July morning sees a 1 ft NW swell with a 10-second period, but the wind is still cross-on at 9 mph, and energy is only 32 – not enough.
The rest of the first week is more of the same: tiny swells, cross-on wind, and poor surf. The second week doesn't get any better. By Saturday 25 July, we get a 3 ft NW swell, but the wind is a fresh cross-shore 22 mph, making it lumpy. Sunday 26 July has strong cross winds near 28 mph – that's kite-surfing weather, not paddle surfing. Then from Monday 28 July through the end of the month, the swell drops to almost nothing, with long periods of glassy conditions but zero waves. On 1 August, there's a tiny 0.3 ft long-period swell (16 seconds) from the west, but it's flat and clean – no energy to ride.
Water temperature at the start is about 68°F, which is normal for this time of year – no anomaly. But that doesn't matter with no surf. The optimum swell direction for Reef is SW, and we never see that – it's all NW to WNW, which is cross or cross-on here. The wind is almost always cross-on or cross-shore, never clean offshore. So I'm calling it a blank period. Sometimes forecasts change, and Reef can fire up quickly, but right now, I'd leave the boards in the garage. Stay tuned – maybe something shifts, but as it stands, it's a total washout.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Fri afternoon, min 18°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 17 | Saturday 18 | Sunday 19 | Monday 20 | Tuesday 21 | Wednesday 22 | Thursday 23 | ||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NW 9 | NW 7 | WNW 12 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | NW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 7 | WNW 9 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
13 | 13 | 16 | 21 | 38 | 43 | 48 | 13 | 67 | 13 | 24 | 28 | 65 | 33 | 37 | 31 | 28 | 16 | 35 | 15 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 5:50PM3.14m | 6:18AM2.70m | 6:35PM2.97m | 7:03AM2.57m | 7:21PM2.75m | 7:50AM2.42m | 8:09PM2.51m | 8:40AM2.28m | 9:03PM2.28m | 9:38AM2.17m | 10:07PM2.11m | 10:46AM2.12m | 11:21PM2.03m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:09AM0.08m | 12:15PM0.28m | 00:53AM0.25m | 1:00PM0.44m | 1:37AM0.45m | 1:48PM0.63m | 2:24AM0.65m | 2:42PM0.81m | 3:16AM0.83m | 3:48PM0.94m | 4:19AM0.96m | 5:05PM1.00m | ||||||||
— | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:28 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | |
— | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | NW 5 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | N 8 |
13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 16 | 25 | 13 | 13 | 84 | 88 | 133 | 88 | 37 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 16 | 29 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | SW 5 | SW 5 | — | NW 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | N 9 | WNW 9 |
1 | 1 | 1 | — | 3 | 10 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 24 | 28 | 40 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 28 | 16 | 6 | 15 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | S 14 | — | SW 19 | W 10 | W 9 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 12 | WNW 12 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | N 9 | N 10 | W 4 | N 9 | SW 12 | S 12 |
— | 4 | — | 15 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 12 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 15 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 3 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 3 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | — | NW 7 | NNW 7 | — | — | NW 7 | — | — | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | — | NW 7 | WNW 5 |
4 | 13 | 16 | 21 | 38 | 43 | 48 | — | 67 | 70 | — | — | 65 | — | — | 7 | 9 | — | 35 | 9 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1376 | 906 | 509 | 984 | 245 | 184 | 443 | 172 | 38 | 448 | 38 | 35 | 548 | 38 | 33 | 548 | 144 | 33 | 443 | 38 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Ericeira | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Reef provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Reef can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our 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 (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 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.
Are you planning a holiday in Ericeira? If you are looking for accommodation near Reef, camping, hotels and holiday cottages in Ericeira, consider staying in Torres Vedras which is 19 km (12 miles) away. Other places in and around Ericeira where you can find information about places to rent, and car hire include Sintra which is 21 km (13 miles) away, Rio de Mouro, Cacem and Loures.










