
Surf Forecasts:
Reef surf forecast from 6 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 13 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, W swell with 212 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 9s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 13) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 8s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 06) at 4PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 13th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s talk about this run of surf. Honestly, mate, it’s a flat spell with a whole lot of cross-shore chop and not much to get excited about. We’ve got a 16-day window but the first decent-looking kick doesn’t show up until late in the piece. The break is Reef, a fairly consistent advanced reef setup that’s exposed to the SW swell – exactly what we’re not getting for most of this period.
The first few days are basically a write-off. From Thursday 6th August right through to the middle of the month, we’re looking at tiny, weak swell with that persistent NNW wind blowing cross or cross-onshore. The swell height is barely hovering around 1ft to 2ft, with short periods of 7 to 10 seconds. The combined energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (it’s sitting at 79, 52, 46, 45 – all under 100). It’s just poor, lumpy, choppy conditions. Not worth paddling out for.
There’s a bit of a pulse around Wednesday 12th August where the swell nudges up to 3ft from the west with a period of 9 seconds, and the energy climbs to 179 – still moderate, not strong. But the wind is still cross or cross-on, and the surf quality is rated poor. It’s not a stand-out, just a slight uptick in a flat run.
Things get a little more interesting around Monday 17th August. The swell builds to 4ft from the NW, period 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 259 – now we’re talking moderate to strong energy. But the wind is still a fresh cross-shore at 30 km/h, so it’s lumpy. Not the clean, glassy conditions you want for a reef.
Now, the real standout – and I mean the only one worth marking on the calendar – is Tuesday 18th August. The morning shows a solid 8ft swell from the NW with an 8-second period. The combined energy is a strong 819 – that’s proper power. For a reef break, that’s juicy. But here’s the catch: 8ft is expert territory, not for the faint-hearted. The wind is still a moderate cross-shore from the N at 25 km/h, so it won’t be glassy, but it’ll be clean enough for a reef. The swell direction is NW, which is not the optimum SW for this spot, but with that much energy, it’ll still wrap in. That’s your best wave of the outlook, but it’s a one-morning hit – by the afternoon, it drops to 0.3ft with a long period SW groundswell that barely registers 8 energy. So if you’re an expert, circle Tuesday morning.
After that, the rest of the window fades back into tiny, weak little pulses from the SSW with long 13-14 second periods, but the energy is pathetic – 20 to 34. The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing unusual.
So, the big picture: a long, flat stretch with only one genuinely powerful day around 18th August. The rest is just small, windy, choppy slop. If you’re kiting, the fresh cross-shore days might be fun, but for paddle surfing, it’s a lean run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu afternoon, min 18°C on Wed night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 6 | Friday 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | WNW 9 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | W 6 | NNW 5 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
70 | 49 | 46 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 26 | 33 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 46 | 40 | 38 | 20 | 31 | 70 | 128 | 173 | 176 | 207 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 8:38AM2.33m | 9:08PM2.30m | 9:51AM2.28m | 10:33PM2.23m | 11:16AM2.33m | 00:00AM2.29m | 12:33PM2.50m | 1:13AM2.45m | 1:37PM2.74m | 2:11AM2.63m | 2:30PM2.98m | 3:01AM2.79m | 3:17PM3.16m | 3:45AM2.89m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:47PM0.76m | 3:24AM0.77m | 4:09PM0.82m | 4:48AM0.82m | 5:40PM0.74m | 6:12AM0.73m | 6:58PM0.54m | 7:19AM0.55m | 7:59PM0.31m | 8:14AM0.36m | 8:50PM0.09m | 9:01AM0.19m | 9:36PM-0.05m | ||||||||
6:41 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:45 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:46 | — | — | 6:47 | — | — | |
— | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:38 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 22 | 19 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 22 | 23 | 20 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 17 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 10 | W 10 | W 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 | NNW 8 | W 8 | W 7 | WNW 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | W 9 | W 9 | W 9 |
70 | 49 | 46 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 67 | 33 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 38 | 34 | 22 | 20 | 10 | 70 | 128 | 173 | 176 | 207 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 12 | S 12 | SW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | S 12 | WNW 9 | S 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 |
3 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 26 | 3 | 14 | 47 | 40 | 46 | 40 | 38 | 23 | 39 | 52 | 40 | 50 | 64 | 32 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | — | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | W 11 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | W 6 | NNW 7 | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 19 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 3 | NNW 3 | N 4 | NNW 4 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | NNW 4 | NNW 3 | NNW 4 |
194 | 221 | 216 | 217 | 184 | 120 | — | 48 | 16 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 31 | 36 | 19 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 236 | 448 | 288 | 140 | 485 | 38 | 35 | 405 | 33 | 38 | 431 | 32 | 32 | 366 | 130 | 243 | 400 | 32 | 32 | 386 | 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.











