Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 26 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, E swell with 298 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Reef (Culebra) this week:
The most powerful waves expected at The Reef (Culebra) in the next 16 days are 1.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 2AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.2m 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 20) at 11PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Wed 26th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s have a look at what’s happening here. The next couple of weeks are pretty grim, I’m not gonna lie. The whole 16-day window is a write-off – not a single standout session worth paddling out for. The only break on the radar is The Reef (Culebra), and it’s consistently crossed up by breeze and weak, short-period junk. The water temperature is sitting at 84°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there.
The pattern starts straight away with Thursday morning, 20 August, offering a tiny 1 ft swell from the ENE with a period of 8 seconds, but that cross-off wind from the east at 19 mph is just enough to keep it clean – still, the combined energy is a weak 43, so it’s not worth getting excited about. The afternoon picks up a little to 4 ft from the east, but the period drops to a pathetic 6 seconds and the wind goes cross, lumping it right up. The whole of Friday, 21 August, through to Monday, 25 August, is a mixed bag of cross-shore chop and tiny swell, with the occasional clean window but nothing over 3 ft. Tuesday, 25 August, has a brief moment of cleaner conditions with a cross-off from the ESE at 28 mph, but the swell is only 2 ft to 3 ft – you’re scraping the barrel.
The end of the first week sees a slight bump around Saturday, 29 August, with a 6 ft swell from the east, period 7 seconds, and combined energy hitting 424, but the wind is cross-off from the ESE at 16 mph, so it’s clean. That’s about as close to a potential session as it gets – still, the swell is short-period and the quality is marked as poor. For the more experienced crew, a 6 ft day at a reef might be worth a look, but I’d keep expectations low.
From Sunday, 30 August, it all drops back to tiny stuff – 3 ft or less, with no real energy. The very end of the run, Tuesday, 1 September, through to Friday, 4 September, shows a shift to a longer period NNE swell around 10–12 seconds, but the heights are tiny – 0.7 ft to 2 ft – and the wind is fresh cross or cross-off, so it’s pretty much flat. The combined energy is barely above 20 for most of it.
Honestly, this is a dead spell. The break is very consistent, but the conditions are just not lining up. I’d say keep your board in the car, but maybe find something else to do for a fortnight. The Reef (Culebra) is a reliable spot, but even the most reliable can go quiet.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 27°C on Thu afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 29mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun morning, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
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 | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 6 | NNE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 7 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | NE 6 | ENE 9 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 112 | 10 | 22 | 76 | 13 | 40 | 43 | 36 | 51 | 11 | 55 | 40 | 25 | 64 | 25 | 111 | 298 | 181 | 104 | 169 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 3:26PM0.33m | 1:15AM0.20m | 4:31PM0.33m | 2:05AM0.20m | 5:32PM0.34m | 3:14AM0.20m | 6:23PM0.35m | 4:27AM0.20m | 7:05PM0.37m | 5:35AM0.22m | 7:42PM0.38m | 6:36AM0.23m | 8:14PM0.39m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:35PM0.19m | 8:32AM0.03m | 11:51PM0.19m | 9:30AM0.03m | 00:46AM0.18m | 10:29AM0.03m | 1:26AM0.18m | 11:25AM0.03m | 1:59AM0.18m | 12:15PM0.04m | 2:28AM0.17m | 1:02PM0.05m | 2:54AM0.16m | ||||||||
6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
— | 6:45 | — | — | 6:44 | — | — | 6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 4 | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | ENE 8 | SE 7 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | ENE 8 | SE 6 | ESE 8 | NE 6 | ENE 9 | NE 11 | SSE 6 | NE 16 | NE 14 |
17 | 16 | 10 | 22 | 45 | 13 | 16 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 6 | 25 | 111 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 33 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | E 13 | E 13 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | NNE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 11 | ESE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 7 | S 9 | NNE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 7 | NE 7 | N 11 | — | NE 16 | NE 12 | NNE 11 |
22 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | 10 | 5 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 14 | E 13 | E 13 | E 12 | NE 8 | E 12 | N 10 | S 8 | S 9 | SE 9 | S 8 | — | E 10 | NNE 7 | SE 9 | N 11 | S 8 | — | NE 12 | NE 10 | — |
4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | — | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 6 | 4 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 8 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ENE 5 | E 5 | SE 5 | SE 4 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | E 6 |
69 | 112 | 85 | 88 | 76 | 46 | 40 | 43 | 36 | 51 | 52 | 55 | 40 | 25 | 64 | 14 | 12 | 298 | 181 | 104 | 169 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 520 | 1196 | 98 | 796 | 454 | 98 | 79 | 79 | 414 | 863 | 454 | 414 | 864 | 825 | 422 | 863 | 796 | 98 | 79 | 454 | 414 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Puerto Rico | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Reef (Culebra) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Reef (Culebra) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at The Reef (Culebra) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Reef (Culebra) 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 (The Reef (Culebra)) 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 The Reef (Culebra) 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.











