Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.98° N 9.42° W

Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 31 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Reef sea temperature is
20.3°C
0.1° 

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


Reef surf forecast from 31 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Saturday 5 Sep, 10PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 13s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Sunday 6 Sep, 1AM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 13s period, NW swell with 486 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 5 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 9s 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 Saturday (Sep 05) at 4PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 9s period. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.

The most powerful waves expected at Reef in the next 16 days are 1.2m 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Sep 06) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be glassy at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.8m 10s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 4AM.

Wave TypeTime (WEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4PM (Sat 5th Sep)2.5ft (0.8m) 9s
Best Surf10PM (Sat 5th Sep)3.5ft (1.1m) 13s
Most Powerful 1AM (Sun 6th Sep)4ft (1.2m) 13s

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


The Lowdown

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on offer for our local break, Reef.

To be straight with you, the next week and a half is a pretty bleak stretch. We've got a long gap of poor conditions from the start all the way through to the morning of Saturday the 5th of September. Strong northerly winds and cross-chop are just ruining any chance of a decent wave. The water temp is sitting around a very average 69°, so nothing unusual there for this time of year.

But hang on, things finally start to look up on the afternoon of Saturday the 5th of September. The wind drops right off and goes glassy from the ENE at just 3 mph, straight out of the east-northeast. We get a tiny 3 ft swell from the WNW with a 9-second period, and the combined energy is weak at just 96. The wave comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions". Honestly, it's the first clean window we've had, so if you are desperate for a paddle and a few crumbly little waves, this is your only shot. It's not going to be good, but it will be glassy.

Then the real standout arrives. Sunday morning the 6th of September is the best it gets. A proper NW groundswell pushes through at 4 ft with a lovely 12-second period, and the combined energy is a solid moderate 473. The wind goes glassy again from the west at just 3 mph. This is the only session I’d bother marking on the calendar. The conditions will be clean, the swell has some push, and with a longer period like that, the lines should be a bit more defined. Just be aware, it's a reef break that is "often" crowded, so expect plenty of company out there. This one is for the advanced crew.

After that brief moment of glory, the rest of the 16-day window is mostly a write-off again. Afternoon on the 6th goes cross-on and choppy, and then we're back into a long run of northerly winds and lumpy conditions. The morning of Tuesday the 15th of September shows a bit of a pulse with a 14-second period swell at 3 ft from the NW (combined energy of 370), but the wind is cross-off from the NNE so it could be clean, but it's a long-range call and a bit uncertain. It’s an "marginal surf forecast" according to the notes. The afternoon of that same day jumps up to 5 ft but gets hammered by a moderate cross-onshore wind, making it a choppy mess only suitable for the experts or maybe even the kite surfers.

So the bottom line: don't hold your breath for the first week. The only two windows to look at are Saturday afternoon (5th) for a glassy but tiny session, and the clear winner is Sunday morning (6th) for a clean, fun-sized swell. After that, it's back to waiting.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds.

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Mostly dry. Warm (max 36°C on Sat afternoon, min 21°C on Thu morning). Wind will be generally light.

Monday
31
Tuesday
1
Wednesday
2
Thursday
3
Friday
4
Saturday
5
Sunday
6
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
1
3
2
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)
1.1
NW
9
1.4
NW
10
1.4
NW
10
1.2
NW
9
0.2
SSW
15
0.2
SSW
14
0.8
NW
8
0.6
NW
8
0.2
SSW
15
0.4
WNW
9
0.6
WNW
8
0.7
WNW
9
0.6
WNW
8
0.8
WNW
10
0.8
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
9
0.8
WNW
9
1.2
NW
13
1.2
NW
12
0.8
NW
8
1.1
NW
5
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
183
384
377
235
22
21
82
49
22
32
48
65
45
120
103
106
96
486
407
86
49
Wind (km/h)
30
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
30
N
25
N
30
NNW
20
N
10
N
20
NNW
20
N
25
NE
25
NNE
15
NNE
25
NNE
5
ENE
5
E
5
W
15
NW
20
N
Wind State
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
cross-off
glassy
glassy
glassy
cross-on
cross
High Tide
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
9:37AM2.25m
10:33PM2.12m
11:12AM2.31m
00:04AM2.23m
Low Tide
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
4:07PM0.85m
4:44AM0.93m
5:46PM0.74m
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
7:05
7:05
7:05
7:07
7:07
7:09
7:09
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:09
8:08
8:07
8:06
8:04
8:01
8:00
 mm
Temp °C
20
20
18
20
20
18
21
21
18
26
26
22
26
34
26
34
36
26
27
24
20
Feels °C
16
16
14
16
16
14
19
18
16
24
23
21
22
29
23
28
35
26
27
23
20
  • 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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