Surf Forecasts:
Reef surf forecast from 29 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s period, NW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 5 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 11s period, NW swell with 652 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 10s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 10s period. 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 1.7m 11s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 05) 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 2.0m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 5th Sep) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you. There’s not much to get excited about right now. The forecast shows a proper drought of decent surf, so don’t be in a rush to grab your board until the back half of the outlook.
We’re looking at Reef, an advanced reef break that picks up swell well, but the whole first week and a bit is a write-off. Up until the 11th of September, it’s all poor surf. We’ve got a persistent northerly wind blowing cross-shore, and the swell is often tiny or completely messy. That long stretch from the 1st to the 4th of September sees swell barely a whisper at 0.7 ft, with period up to 16 seconds, so there’s plenty of energy in the water, but it’s just too small to ride. The combined energy is very low, only about 23 to 24 (23 to 28) across those days. Even the moderate-sized swells around 4 ft to 5 ft in late August are wrecked by the wind, so no go there.
The first hint of something on Friday the 4th of September is a morning with 3 ft NW swell, 14-second period and a gentle cross-shore breeze – clean enough, but the energy is moderate (330) and it’s only a “marginal” call. Not a standout, just a reminder that things might turn. The water temp is 68°, which is about average for this time of year – no real anomaly to worry about.
Now, for the one true standout: Friday the 11th of September, morning session. This is the one. We’ve got a solid 5 ft swell coming out of the WNW, with a very long 15-second period. The combined energy is pumping at a strong 839, which tells you there’s proper power in the water. The wind is light out of the NW at 6 mph, but it’s cross-onshore, which keeps it from being glassy. However, that long period groundswell will wrap nicely into this reef, giving you real punchy, well-shaped waves. It’s not a beginner wave at 5 ft – it’s got some heft – and with that super long period, it'll break a bit deeper, so it’s a point-and-reef paradise. Crowds are likely here, but for a quality wave like this, it’s worth it. This is the morning to circle on your calendar.
Saturday the 12th of September sees the swell drop a little to 4 ft, same direction, but the wind picks up and it gets lumpy. Still surfable, but not the gem of the 11th.
So overall, we’ve got a big dry spell from now until the 4th, then some marginal options, and then that one golden window on the 11th of September morning. After that, the 13th is still small and onshore, so don’t hold your breath for the following days. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a waiting game.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 17°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||||
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 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | NW 14 | NW 12 | NW 11 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
437 | 286 | 211 | 244 | 423 | 203 | 179 | 348 | 299 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 20 | 26 | 304 | 520 | 375 | |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:17PM3.03m | 4:37AM2.82m | 4:50PM3.02m | 5:10AM2.82m | 5:24PM2.94m | 5:46AM2.76m | 6:02PM2.80m | 6:25AM2.66m | 6:46PM2.61m | 7:12AM2.51m | 7:40PM2.39m | 8:13AM2.35m | 8:55PM2.19m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:04AM0.19m | 10:29PM0.09m | 10:37AM0.16m | 11:01PM0.10m | 11:11AM0.19m | 11:35PM0.18m | 11:48AM0.28m | 00:12AM0.31m | 12:31PM0.42m | 00:55AM0.50m | 1:22PM0.60m | 1:49AM0.71m | 2:31PM0.77m | 3:05AM0.89m | |||||||
7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | |
— | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | — | 8:07 | — | — | 8:06 | — | — | 8:04 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 20 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 19 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 10 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 15 | SSW 16 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 | NNW 7 | NW 12 | NW 11 |
437 | 286 | 211 | 244 | — | 203 | 179 | 348 | 299 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 208 | 172 | 20 | 26 | 158 | 520 | 375 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 10 | S 10 | — | W 13 | — | W 12 | NNW 11 | SW 17 | SW 16 | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | — | NW 16 | NW 14 | NW 8 | SW 13 |
2 | 2 | — | 4 | — | 11 | 51 | 11 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 8 | — | 10 | 304 | 17 | 7 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 14 | — | SW 14 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20 | — | 8 | 26 | 7 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | NNW 3 | NW 9 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | NNW 7 | NNW 7 |
— | — | — | 3 | 423 | 55 | 72 | 84 | 197 | 516 | 449 | 524 | 364 | 302 | — | — | 178 | 149 | — | 99 | 105 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 32 | 484 | 32 | 32 | 400 | 35 | 236 | 420 | 236 | 236 | 236 | 130 | 34 | 496 | 43 | 35 | 430 | 32 | 32 | 400 | 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.











