Reef Surf Break

Lat Long: 38.98° N 9.42° W

Reef Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Issued: 12 pm 23 Aug 2026 (local time)

Forecast update in  hr  min

Today's Reef sea temperature is
18.9°C
1.7° 

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


Reef surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:

  • Best quality surf: Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s period, NW swell with cross-onshore winds.
  • Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 11s period, NW swell with 2,116 kJ wave energy.
  • Next surfable swell (1★+): Friday 28 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 7ft (2.1m), 9s 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 Friday (Aug 28) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 2.1m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 11s. The wind is predicted to be cross-onshore 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 1.9m 10s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 10AM.

Wave TypeTime (WEST) & Date Wave Height & Period
Next good surf (1 star+) 1AM (Fri 28th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Best Surf 1AM (Fri 28th Aug)7ft (2.1m) 9s
Most Powerful10AM (Fri 28th Aug)10ft (3.0m) 11s

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


The Lowdown

Right, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for this spot over the next couple of weeks.

To be straight with you, the outlook is a grim one for a good while. We’ve got a decent chunk of solid swell pushing through, but the wind is just wrecking it for the first few days. Sunday the 23rd and Monday the 24th see a 6ft to 8ft swell from the WNW and WSW, but it’s getting hammered by strong southerly and southwesterly winds at 22 to 25 mph, making for cross-off and cross-on conditions that are just messy. The water is sitting at 66°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a decent steamer.

The real kicker comes on Tuesday the 25th morning. The swell drops to 4ft from the west, but the wind goes glassy at just 3 mph. That’s a rare window of clean conditions. The period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s a bit of a windswell, and the combined energy is weak at 165 (moderate energy). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. Still, if you’re desperate, that’s the only morning that looks even half decent. Crowds are likely at this reef break, so be prepared for company.

After that, we hit a gap of several days with nothing worth paddling out for, until Friday the 28th. Friday morning brings a 8ft swell from the NW with a solid 11-second period, and the combined energy is a heavy 1454 (strong to very strong). That’s a big wave. The wind is a light cross-on from the NNW at 6 mph, which will keep it reasonably clean. But at 8ft, this is for experts only. It’s too big for beginners, and the long period means it’ll be a proper groundswell. This reef will handle it well, but the swell is predicted to be too big for this break, so it could be a washing machine. This is the standout if you’re a seasoned charger, but it’s a week away, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

The rest of the run into September is pretty bleak. The swell drops to under 3ft, and the winds are mostly cross or cross-on, with strong breezes. There’s a tiny 0.3ft to 0.7ft spike from the south with a very long period (13-26 seconds) on the 30th of August, 3rd, 5th, and 6th of September, but the combined energy is laughable (6 to 55, weak), and the wind is strong. Those are just ripples, not surf. The 7th of September has a 4ft to 3ft west swell with a long period (16-17 seconds), but the wind is a fresh 22 to 25 mph cross-shore, making it a lumpy mess.

Honestly, mate, the only real window is Tuesday the 25th morning for a small, clean wave, and Friday the 28th morning for the big, expert-only stuff. Everything else is a write-off. That’s the call.

Rusty.

Short Range Forecast

Moderate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 22°C on Sun morning, min 20°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun morning, light winds from the WNW by Mon night).

Days 4-6 Weather Summary

Light rain (total 7mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 17°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light.

Sunday
23
Monday
24
Tuesday
25
Wednesday
26
Thursday
27
Friday
28
Saturday
29
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
Swell
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Height Map
Wave
Height (m)
Direction
Period (s)
1.8
WNW
11
1.8
W
10
2.3
WSW
9
2.5
WSW
8
2.2
WSW
8
1.7
W
7
1.4
W
7
1.2
WNW
7
0.9
WNW
6
0.9
W
6
1.2
WNW
6
1.3
WNW
8
1.7
WNW
9
1.8
WNW
8
2.1
NW
9
3
NW
11
2.5
NW
11
2.3
NW
11
1.9
NW
10
1.9
NNW
10
1.6
NNW
9
Wave Graph
Metric surfscale
Energy kJ
718
630
773
778
600
311
187
139
75
57
112
186
454
455
711
2116
1625
1232
0
0
0
Wind (km/h)
35
SSE
35
S
35
SSW
35
SW
30
WSW
15
WSW
5
SW
15
WSW
10
W
25
SW
15
WNW
15
WSW
25
W
25
W
15
NW
10
NNW
25
NNW
20
N
20
N
25
NNW
15
N
Wind State
cross-off
cross
cross
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
cross-on
on
cross-on
on
on
on
on
cross-on
cross-on
cross-on
cross
cross
cross
cross
High Tide
12:36PM2.16m
1:11AM2.08m
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
Low Tide
7:03PM0.92m
7:12AM0.91m
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
light rain
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
thunderstorm
part cloud
part cloud
cloud
clear
clear
thunderstorm
part cloud
rain showers
rain showers
rain showers
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
clear
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunrise">Sunrise</span>
6:56
6:58
6:58
7:00
7:01
7:01
7:03
<span class="translation_missing" title="translation missing: en.weather_tables.sunset">Sunset</span>
8:22
8:21
8:19
8:17
8:15
8:15
8:13
 mm
3
1
5
4
3
1
2
1
Temp °C
22
22
21
22
22
21
21
22
20
21
21
20
21
20
20
20
20
18
20
20
19
Feels °C
18
18
17
19
19
21
23
22
21
20
19
19
17
16
17
19
17
17
18
17
18
  • 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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