Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.98° N 9.42° W

Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 6 am 20 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Reef sea temperature is
19.7° C
1.0° 

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


Reef surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s period, WNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Monday 24 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 9s period, WSW swell with 955 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 12s 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 Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 12s 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 2.5m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 24) 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 2.1m 10s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1PM.

Wave TypeTime (WEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Best Surf 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug)5ft (1.6m) 12s
Most Powerful 4AM (Mon 24th Aug)8ft (2.5m) 9s

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


The Lowdown

Alright, grab your board and let’s talk real talk. It’s a bit of a flat spell coming up for the Reef, so if you’re itching for a wave, you’re gonna have to be patient. The next 16 days are a mixed bag, but there are a couple of windows that’ll get the heart pumping.

First up, the water's sitting at 68° right now, which is a touch colder than normal for this time of year. Nothing crazy, just a little nip in the air. The surf itself? Dead. For the first few days, we're looking at tiny, weak swell with poor conditions. Thursday and Friday are a total write-off, with light, messy winds and barely a ripple. The combined energy is weak, down in the 60s and 80s. It’s a waiting game.

Then, on Sunday the 23rd, things start to shuffle. We get a pulse of swell pushing 6ft from the west, with a 10-second period. The energy jumps to 626, which is solid. The morning has a clean, cross-off wind, which is a massive plus. It’s still not perfect, but it’s the first real sign of life. However, the afternoon gets a bit lumpy with a fresh cross-shore. Monday the 24th brings more size, up to 7ft, but it’s messy. The wind is cross-onshore and it's choppy, so despite the push in energy, it's not going to be pretty.

The mid-week is just frustrating. Tuesday and Wednesday are poor, with onshore slop and weak, short-period swell. It’s not until Thursday the 27th afternoon that we see the next real bump. The swell gets to 7ft from the NW with a 9-second period, and the energy leaps up to 782. The wind is light and cross-onshore, which will chop it up a bit, but it's powerful.

Now, the standout. If you can wait, Friday the 28th is your day. The swell holds at 6ft from the NW, with a 10-second period and moderate energy in the 600s. The wind is a clean cross-shore, making for some decent shape. It’s still not perfect, but it’s the best on offer. The following weekend is more of the same, with cross-shore winds and chest-high waves, but nothing that will blow you away.

The real kicker is the long-range call for Thursday, September 3rd. The morning shows a 7ft NW swell with a 10-second period and a massive energy reading of 856. The wind is favorable, but the forecast is flagging that this might be too big for the break. That’s a big-wave day, and only for the experts. For the rest of us, the week after that fades back into smaller, cleaner, but unexciting surf.

So, here’s the deal. The best on offer is that Friday the 28th. It’s not a classic, but it’s the cleanest, most powerful swell of the window. If you’re a beginner, be careful when the swell pushes past 5ft, and absolutely stay away on that 3rd of September. If it’s too messy and windy for you, the setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Alright, that's the long and short of it. Keep an eye on that forecast, because things can change.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Mostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Thu morning, min 18°C on Thu night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the N on Thu afternoon, light winds from the SW by Sat night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 23°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSW on Sun night, light winds from the SW by Mon night).

Thursday
20
Friday
21
Saturday
22
Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
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
1
1
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)
0.6
WNW
9
0.7
WNW
9
0.5
W
9
0.2
SSW
15
0.2
SSW
15
0.5
WNW
9
0.5
W
9
0.5
W
9
0.9
WNW
13
1.7
W
10
1.5
WNW
10
1.9
W
9
2
WSW
8
1.6
WSW
7
1.1
W
6
1.1
WNW
7
1
WNW
7
0.8
NW
7
1.1
WNW
6
1.3
WNW
8
1
NW
8
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
62
68
39
21
21
42
38
39
282
608
399
562
515
292
100
99
96
60
93
209
123
Wind (km/h)
10
NNW
20
NNW
30
NNW
30
N
30
NNW
20
NNW
10
WNW
10
W
10
S
25
SSE
30
S
30
S
25
SW
25
SW
10
SW
10
S
15
WSW
15
SW
15
WNW
30
W
25
W
Wind State
cross
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
cross-on
on
cross
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
on
on
High Tide
9:12PM1.98m
9:50AM2.03m
10:42PM1.88m
11:22AM2.03m
00:11AM1.94m
12:36PM2.16m
1:11AM2.08m
1:28PM2.34m
1:54AM2.25m
2:08PM2.54m
2:30AM2.42m
2:43PM2.72m
3:03AM2.57m
Low Tide
2:50PM1.00m
3:15AM1.09m
4:18PM1.11m
4:48AM1.16m
5:56PM1.07m
6:14AM1.07m
7:03PM0.92m
7:12AM0.91m
7:48PM0.74m
7:53AM0.72m
8:24PM0.55m
8:28AM0.54m
8:57PM0.38m
part cloud
part cloud
clear
part cloud
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
cloud
light rain
thunderstorm
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
part cloud
part cloud
rain showers
clear
rain showers
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:54
6:56
6:56
6:56
6:58
6:58
7:00
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:25
8:24
8:22
8:22
8:21
8:19
8:17
 mm
1
4
1
1
1
Temp °C
22
21
19
20
20
18
20
20
19
22
23
21
22
22
21
22
21
21
21
21
20
Feels °C
22
20
15
16
16
15
19
19
19
18
20
19
20
20
22
21
20
21
20
17
16
  • Map Icons:
  • Break
  • Live Wave Height (m)
  • Live Wind Speed (km/h)
  • Surf Rating (10 Max)
  • Ocean Swells (m)
  • Wind Speed (km/h)
Map placeholder
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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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