The Reef (Culebra) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about the next 16 days for The Reef in Culebra. Honestly, I’m looking at a pretty grim stretch. The wind is a constant problem, and the swell just isn't lining up right. This is one of those periods where you might be better off finding something else to do.

The first recommendation doesn't pop up until the morning of Tuesday, August 18th, and even then it's only a "marginal" call. That’s a long gap of over a week with nothing solid to report. The water temp is sitting at 84°F, which is about normal for this time of year, so at least you won't need a thick wetsuit.

Let’s walk through the gloom. From Wednesday, August 5th, right through to Monday, August 17th, the surf is just poor. The wind is stuck in the east, blowing 15 to 25 mph, and it's almost always cross or cross-off. That’s a messy combo, putting a chop on the face and making it hard to get a clean ride. The swell is small, mostly 3 ft to 4 ft, with a short period of 5 to 8 seconds – that's weak, wind-affected crap. The combined energy (102 to 441) is moderate to strong, but with the wind ruining it, the quality is zero. On Thursday, August 13th, the swell bumps up to 5 ft with a clean morning, but it’s still a no-go according to the forecast. By Friday, August 14th and Saturday, August 15th, the swell hits 6 ft, but it’s wrapped in strong cross-winds and lumpy chop. That’s expert-only territory if it was clean, but it’s not. For a beginner, anything over 5 ft is too much, and this is a full-on mess.

Finally, on Tuesday, August 18th, we get a flicker of hope. The morning session is still a failure, but the afternoon shows a bit of promise. The swell is 5 ft from the east, with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind goes cross-off from the ESE at 15 mph. The combined energy is 251. The report says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions," but it’s the only window in the whole 16 days that gets a score above zero. The Reef is a very consistent spot, exposed to the north and optimum swell from the north, but we’re getting east swell. That’s off-angle, which is partly why it’s so poor. If you’re desperate, that Tuesday afternoon might be worth a paddle, but keep expectations low. The crowds are sometimes a factor here, but with this outlook, you’ll likely have the place to yourself.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. Small, weak swell and messy wind. Not a great run.

Rusty.

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