
Surf Forecasts:
Reef surf forecast from 11 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s period, WNW swell with 237 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 9s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 15) at 7PM.
| 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
Righto. Rusty here, lookin' at the charts for this stretch of coast.
Honestly, mate, it’s a bit of a tough run ahead. There are no proper standouts in the whole 16-day window. We’re lookin’ at a long stretch of poor surf conditions at the Reef break, from now right the way through to the end of the month. The main story is a lot of onshore and cross-shore wind, and even though we get pulses of swell energy, the quality just isn’t there for a decent paddle.
Starting from Tuesday the 11th and right through the rest of this week and into the next, the surf is small and messy. On Tuesday morning, we’re looking at a tiny 3ft NW windswell with a short 6-second period, and a weak combined energy reading of just 71. The northerly cross-breeze isn't doing it any favours either. It stays small and weak all week.
Between Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th, we see a jump in the combined energy (157 to 329), but it’s coming from a cross-shore wind, and the wave comment says it all: poor. The swell height barely cracks 4ft and it's still a short-period WNW windswell. Not the kind of thing that'll get you out of bed.
The weekend of the 15th and 16th is properly flat, with swell dropping to a pathetic 0.3ft. That long-period energy (18 seconds) from the south is just a whisper, and the combined energy is basically zero (6-12). It’s all cross-onshore breeze and lumpy chop. Not worth lookin’ at.
There’s another pulse of swell energy that kicks up on Monday the 17th and Tuesday the 18th, with readings of 22 and 42, but it’s still tiny (0.3ft to 1ft) and on a long period from the SSW/SW. The wind is howling out of the NNW at 28 mph, straight across the break. That’s more of a kite session than a surf session, to be honest.
The second week is more of the same, just with stronger wind. There’s a bit more size showing on the 21st, with a 3ft NW swell and 10-second period, pushing the combined energy up to 200, but guess what? The wind is still cross-shore or cross-on from the NNW, chopping it all up. The best chance we get in the whole period is probably Sunday the 23rd afternoon, when a 3ft NW swell with a 10-second period and a combined energy of 223 shows up. But again, the wind is a 22 mph cross-shore from the north, so it’ll be lumpy and messy. Late on the 24th, the energy ramps up again (384) with a 4ft NW swell, but a 25 mph cross-shore wind kills any real quality.
After that, it just fades out into tiny, windy junk all the way to the 26th.
So, no good options for a paddle session in this 16-day run. The Reef is a spot that needs a clean, lined-up swell, and we just don't get the right wind with any of these pulses. It’s a blank run, plain and simple. Forecasts can always change, but as it stands, I'd leave the board in the car.
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 24°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Fri night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Fri night, calm by Sun morning). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | NNW 6 | WNW 10 | 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 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
52 | 40 | 77 | 120 | 154 | 154 | 154 | 237 | 175 | 130 | 124 | 0 | 6 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 26 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 2:30PM2.98m | 3:01AM2.79m | 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 | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:50PM0.09m | 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 | ||||||||
6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:48 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | |
— | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:35 | — | — | 8:34 | — | — | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 26 | 24 | 22 |
Feels °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 12 | NNW 12 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | — | S 18 | SW 18 | SW 17 | NNW 9 | SW 16 | SW 15 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | SSW 16 |
38 | 53 | 77 | 120 | 154 | 154 | 154 | 237 | 175 | 130 | 124 | — | 6 | 12 | 11 | 1050 | 11 | 9 | 793 | 524 | 26 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | WNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 16 | — | — | SW 15 | SW 15 | S 13 |
21 | 23 | 58 | 51 | 47 | 33 | 37 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | — | — | 9 | 9 | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | — | — |
19 | 14 | — | — | — | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | — | NNW 8 |
52 | 40 | 41 | 34 | 31 | 44 | 48 | 83 | 102 | 181 | 220 | 495 | 973 | 1093 | 1266 | — | 878 | 785 | — | — | 434 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 35 | 400 | 32 | 32 | 221 | 32 | 32 | 407 | 35 | 124 | 471 | 227 | 236 | 585 | 140 | 1 | 143 | 34 | 1 | 547 | 34 |
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.











