
Surf Forecasts:
Reef surf forecast from 12 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, WNW swell with 241 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Reef this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Reef in the next 16 days are 1.1m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 3.0m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for this stretch of coast. I’ve got to be straight with you – the next 16 days are looking bleak. That’s a long stretch of nothing, and I mean nothing, for a good wave. The first bit of hope doesn’t even show up until the 12th of August, and even then, it’s a tough sell.
The overall pattern is a whole lot of cross-shore wind, mostly from the north and north-northwest, with a moderate to strong breeze hanging around. The swell is small and weak, with poor energy. The water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year, so no major surprises there.
Starting off on Wednesday the 12th of August, we’ve got a tiny 3ft swell from the WNW, but it’s coming in at a short 10-second period. The wind is a cross-shore N at 12 mph, and it’s choppy. The combined energy is a weak 144. It’s a mess. This is the same story for the next few days – a bit of small swell, but the wind stays on it. Thursday the 13th has a similar 3ft swell, but the energy climbs to 230, still not enough to get excited about with that cross wind.
Friday the 14th, we get a slight drop in energy to 130, and the wind picks up to 19 mph in the afternoon. The swell period drops to 9 seconds, making it even more junky. By Saturday the 15th, the swell completely dies, dropping to 0.3ft with a very long period of 18 seconds from the south. That’s a ghost swell – barely any energy (6), and the wind is howling from the NNW at 22-25 mph. That’s not surf, that’s a washing machine.
The rest of the first week and into the second is more of the same. Small, weak swells, mostly from the SSW or SW, with periods between 14 and 18 seconds, but the energy is always in the low double digits. The wind is relentless, mostly cross-shore or cross-on, keeping everything lumpy and messy.
There is one tiny window on Monday the 17th of August in the morning. The wind turns light from the NE, going cross-offshore, and the conditions are described as clean. But the swell is only 0.3ft from the SW with a long 18-second period. The energy is just 22. It’s clean, but there’s nothing to ride. That’s the closest we get to a highlight, and it’s a tease.
Towards the end of the run, on the 26th of August, the swell finally shows a bit of life. We get a 5ft swell from the NW on Wednesday morning, but the period is a short 7 seconds. The energy is 212, which is moderate, but the wind is still a cross-shore N at 16 mph. It’s too big for beginners at that size, but the short period and cross wind will make it messy and hard to handle. By Thursday the 27th, it’s a similar story – 4ft from the NW, 8-second period, and more cross wind.
Honestly, this is a blank run. The only break here is “Reef,” a reef break that’s fairly consistent but exposed to the swell. It’s an advanced spot, and with the wind we’ve got, it’s not going to be any fun. For the first 14 days, the swell is just too small and the wind is too strong. When the swell does finally show up at the end, the wind ruins it. If you’re a kite surfer, the strong cross-shore winds and small, lumpy waves might look interesting, but for a paddle surfer, it’s a hard pass. The forecast can change, and it tends not to stay this poor for long, but right now, I’d say leave the board in the car and go do something else.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 23°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the NNW on Sat night, light winds from the NE by Mon morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 7 | S 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
120 | 154 | 154 | 154 | 241 | 175 | 130 | 124 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 26 | 10 | 24 | 21 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 3:17PM3.16m | 3:45AM2.89m | 4:01PM3.26m | 4:27AM2.93m | 4:42PM3.25m | 5:07AM2.90m | 5:22PM3.14m | 5:45AM2.80m | 6:01PM2.95m | 6:23AM2.67m | 6:40PM2.71m | 7:02AM2.50m | 7:21PM2.44m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:01AM0.19m | 9:36PM-0.05m | 9:45AM0.08m | 10:18PM-0.10m | 10:26AM0.04m | 10:58PM-0.07m | 11:05AM0.09m | 11:36PM0.05m | 11:44AM0.20m | 00:12AM0.24m | 12:23PM0.38m | 00:49AM0.46m | 1:04PM0.59m | 1:27AM0.69m | |||||||
6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 23 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 21 |
Feels °C | 23 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | S 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | NNW 9 | SW 15 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 |
120 | 154 | 154 | 154 | 241 | 175 | 130 | 124 | — | 6 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 878 | 9 | 492 | 394 | 313 | 206 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NW 12 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 15 | W 9 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 16 | WNW 9 |
51 | 32 | 33 | 37 | 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | 26 | 10 | 24 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — | SW 13 | — | SSW 15 |
— | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | 7 | — | 21 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — |
24 | 20 | 42 | 39 | 72 | 98 | 144 | 181 | 475 | 1023 | 1103 | 1530 | 1101 | 867 | 1101 | — | 616 | — | — | — | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 35 | 32 | 32 | 221 | 35 | 124 | 471 | 236 | 585 | 336 | 497 | 34 | 224 | 140 | 2 | 559 | 34 | 19 | 496 | 32 |
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.











