
Surf Forecasts:
Reef surf forecast from 11 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 12s period, NW swell with 570 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 1.5ft (0.5m), 15s period with NW 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.5m and 15s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 9s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Reef in the next 16 days are 1.4m 12s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) 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 3.0m 8s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 4AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 1.5ft (0.5m) 15s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Right, let’s have a look at what we’ve got for the Reef. This is a spot that’s exposed to the swell, and it’s a reef break that needs an advanced surfer to handle it. The water temp is 64°, which is a solid 5° colder than usual for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a good 4/3 wetsuit – that’s properly chilly.
For the next few days, it’s pretty grim. Swell is tiny and the wind is all over the shop. Friday 11th and Saturday 12th are a write-off – tiny, weak, and messy. Sunday 13th morning is where it starts to get interesting. The wind goes glassy, absolute magic, and there’s a nice 3 ft NW groundswell with a 13-second period. The combined wave energy is moderate (330). This is the first real window of clean surf, but it’s not a huge swell. That afternoon the wind turns onshore, so the morning is the one.
Monday 14th looks a bit marginal with lighter wind, still some NW swell around 3 ft. Then we hit a real patch of nothing from Tuesday 15th through to Sunday 20th. Tiny swell, strong winds, and constant cross-chop. A proper flat spell that lasts nearly a week.
Now, look ahead to Monday 21st September. That’s the first sign of life again. A clean morning with NNE cross-offshore breeze and a 3 ft NW swell with a long 15-second period – that’s some proper groundswell energy (258). It’s clean, but the period is so long that at a beach break it might stand up too straight, but this is a reef, which will handle it beautifully.
The standout, though, and I mean the real standout, is Wednesday 23rd September morning. Glassy conditions, a 5 ft NW groundswell coming from the ideal SW direction, and a solid 506 moderate-to-strong combined wave energy. This is where the plan should be. That morning window is going to be clean, lined up, and rewarding for the crew who paddle out.
After that, Thursday 24th and Friday 25th see a big jump in size. Friday morning has 8 ft of NW swell (2674 energy) – that’s a serious amount of power. It’s glassy too, but frankly, at 8 ft, this reef is going to be pumping and it’s going to be for experts only. Beginners, stay well clear. That’s a big, heavy day.
The run continues into Saturday 26th September morning with a 6 ft NW swell, clean with an offshore E wind. Still plenty of size and energy (935), and by now the water may have warmed a touch.
So, to sum it up. The first week is mostly a dud. The first real clean window is Sunday 13th morning. The stand-out, the one to circle on the calendar, is Wednesday 23rd September morning – glassy, solid groundswell, and the reef will be on. The following Friday is for the brave. Crowds at this spot can be often, so if it’s good, expect company.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 24°C on Mon afternoon, min 17°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Mon afternoon, strong winds from the N by Tue night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 11 | Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 15 | NW 13 | NW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 12 | WNW 11 | S 13 | SW 13 | NW 12 | SW 18 | NW 11 | SW 16 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
55 | 16 | 54 | 68 | 80 | 290 | 520 | 435 | 242 | 169 | 40 | 22 | 39 | 76 | 3 | 6 | 416 | 12 | 268 | 10 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | on | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 4:01AM2.96m | 4:15PM3.17m | 4:36AM2.94m | 4:51PM3.04m | 5:10AM2.86m | 5:26PM2.85m | 5:44AM2.73m | 6:02PM2.62m | 6:18AM2.55m | 6:39PM2.37m | 6:56AM2.36m | 7:22PM2.13m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 9:53PM-0.07m | 10:02AM0.03m | 10:27PM-0.02m | 10:38AM0.08m | 11:00PM0.11m | 11:13AM0.19m | 11:32PM0.29m | 11:48AM0.36m | 00:04AM0.50m | 12:25PM0.57m | 00:38AM0.73m | 1:07PM0.80m | 1:19AM0.95m | |||||||
— | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
7:52 | — | — | 7:51 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:43 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 28 | 26 | 26 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 18 |
Feels °C | 19 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 27 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NW 13 | NW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 9 | WNW 11 | S 13 | SW 13 | NW 12 | NNW 11 | NW 11 | NNW 9 |
68 | 71 | 144 | 111 | 99 | 290 | 520 | 435 | 242 | 169 | 102 | 63 | 39 | 76 | 3 | 6 | 416 | 1641 | 268 | 866 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 7 | NNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 12 | — | — | — | SW 12 | SW 18 | S 12 | SW 16 |
4 | 17 | 54 | 68 | 64 | 48 | 38 | 20 | 46 | 46 | 40 | 22 | 34 | — | — | — | 6 | 12 | 3 | 10 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 8 | WNW 9 | SW 13 | NW 12 | NW 15 | W 9 | S 12 | S 11 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 5 | WNW 12 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | S 12 | S 16 | S 11 |
7 | 16 | 7 | 6 | 80 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 23 | 12 | 3 | 15 | 22 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 5 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | — | NNW 10 | — |
55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 8 | 26 | 326 | 1550 | 1474 | 1712 | — | 799 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 222 | 35 | 0 | 32 | 14 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 1 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 596 | 420 | 585 | 420 | 124 | 32 | 223 | 124 |
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.










