Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.98° N 9.42° W

Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 24 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Reef sea temperature is
18.8°C
1.8° 

Reef surf forecast is for near shore open water. Breaking waves will often be smaller at less exposed spots.


Reef surf forecast from 24 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, NW swell with cross-shore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, WNW swell with 2,252 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with WNW swell.

Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Reef this week:

The surf forecast for Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Reef in the next 16 days are 3.0m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) 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 1.4m 8s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 7PM.

Wave TypeTime (WEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 7AM (Tue 25th Aug)5ft (1.5m) 7s
Best Surf 1PM (Fri 28th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 11s
Most Powerful10AM (Fri 28th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 11s

Table - best surf conditions forecast for Reef over the next 16 days.


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's on the menu for our local reef break.

First off, I gotta be straight with you, the next week and a half is looking pretty tough. We've got a real dry spell kicking off. From Monday the 24th of August all the way through to Sunday the 6th of September, it's a write-off. There's no good surf to be had, with strong winds and messy conditions messing things up every single day. That’s nearly two weeks of nothing. It’s one of those stretches where you’d be better off doing something else.

Now, hang in there, because things start to look interesting come Monday the 7th of September. The morning is still only marginal, with a 3ft swell coming from the WNW at a period of 10 seconds. There’s a light cross-shore breeze, so it’s not great, but you can see the potential. The combined energy is still low (266), so the ocean is just waking up.

But Tuesday the 8th of September… that’s the real standout. Morning is where it’s at. We’ll see a solid 6ft swell, direction from the WNW, and the period jumps right up to a very long 15 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy – it’ll have some real push. The water temp here is sitting about 66°F, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year. The best news? The wind is glassy. Zero, zip, nothing. That’s going to be some seriously clean surf. The combined swell energy is a strong 1594, so there’s plenty of power in the water. Just keep in mind that with a long period like that at a reef break like this, the waves might wrap in a bit more evenly and organized. The sets will be less frequent but more defined.

That Tuesday afternoon gets a bit messy as the wind swings onshore, but that window of glassy morning is the one to circle on your calendar. It’s the best we’ve got in this 16-day outlook, and it looks promising.

The swell direction is a touch west of the recommended optimum SW, but when you’ve got 15-second groundswell and glass, you take it and don’t complain.

Stay patient, that Tuesday the 8th is your day.

Rusty

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 22°C on Mon morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the SW on Mon morning, calm by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Thu morning. Warm (max 21°C on Thu afternoon, min 17°C on Fri night). Mainly fresh winds.

Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
Sunday
30
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
AM
PM
Night
Rating
(10 max)
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
3
WSW
8
2.4
WSW
8
1.7
W
7
1.4
WNW
7
1.2
WNW
7
0.9
WNW
6
1.2
WSW
5
1.7
W
7
1.7
W
8
2.2
W
8
2
W
8
2.3
WNW
10
3
WNW
11
2.5
NW
11
1.9
NW
10
1.5
NW
9
1.1
NW
8
0.7
NW
8
0.9
NW
8
0.1
NW
12
0.9
NW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
1103
730
315
173
121
62
77
290
393
558
458
1011
2252
1565
687
357
181
57
86
6
99
Wind (km/h)
40
SW
25
WSW
10
W
5
SSW
15
WSW
10
WSW
25
SSW
20
W
20
SW
30
W
25
W
30
WSW
30
NNW
25
NNW
25
N
25
N
30
N
25
N
25
N
25
NNW
25
N
Wind State
cross-on
on
on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross
on
cross-on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
1:28PM2.34m
1:54AM2.25m
2:08PM2.54m
2:30AM2.42m
2:43PM2.72m
3:03AM2.57m
3:15PM2.87m
3:34AM2.69m
3:46PM2.98m
4:05AM2.78m
4:17PM3.03m
4:37AM2.82m
4:50PM3.02m
Low Tide
7:48PM0.74m
7:53AM0.72m
8:24PM0.55m
8:28AM0.54m
8:57PM0.38m
9:01AM0.39m
9:28PM0.24m
9:32AM0.26m
9:59PM0.14m
10:04AM0.19m
10:29PM0.09m
10:37AM0.16m
11:01PM0.10m
thunderstorm
clear
cloud
cloud
part cloud
part cloud
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:58
6:58
7:00
7:01
7:01
7:03
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:21
8:19
8:17
8:15
8:15
8:13
8:12
 mm
3
7
3
2
Temp °C
22
22
20
22
22
20
21
21
20
20
21
20
19
20
18
20
20
18
21
21
19
Feels °C
19
20
20
22
21
21
18
19
19
14
16
16
15
18
14
17
16
15
19
19
17
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
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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.

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