Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 17 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 7s period, E swell with 134 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 1.1m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 17) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore 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 (Sep 17) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Thu 17th Sep) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again—this time in feet, Fahrenheit, and miles per hour.
So, The Reef (Culebra) is the only game in town. Water temp is about 85°, right where it should be for this time of year—no crazy anomaly.
But don’t get too excited. For the next week and a half, it’s basically a write-off. From Tuesday the 15th all the way to Monday the 28th, we’ve got sickly small waves – maybe 1 to 3 feet – with cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions. Swell periods are short, around 5 to 8 seconds, and the combined energy barely ticks over 100 most days. It’s just not surfable. That’s a long dry spell, about 10 to 12 days of poor conditions.
Then it starts to change. By Sunday the 27th, we see a NNE swell at around 4 feet with a 14-second period, combined energy climbing to 689. But the wind is still cross at 25 mph, so it’s a bit messy. The real standout is Monday the 28th: 5 feet of NNE swell, 14-second period, combined energy at 907, and the wind swings cross-offshore at 12 mph. That’s clean, that’s powerful, and the reef will turn it into proper walls. This break works best with N swell, and NNE is close enough – it’ll wrap in nicely. With that long period, expect better shape, more punch, and longer lulls between sets, which actually helps you get back out. Crowds are listed as ‘sometimes’, so you might have some company but won’t be fighting for waves.
Keep in mind, 5 feet is starting to push into expert territory – if you’re a beginner, this one’s too big. For the seasoned locals, that Monday will be the session to aim for. After that, it fades fast, with Wednesday the 30th dropping back to 2 feet and weak energy. Don’t miss that Monday window—it’s the only real swell in the whole 16 days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 25mm), heaviest during Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Tue afternoon, min 28°C on Tue morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 13mm), heaviest on Sun morning. Warm (max 29°C on Fri afternoon, min 28°C on Fri morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
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) | E 5 | ENE 8 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | NNE 13 | ENE 6 | NNE 12 | NNW 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 35 | 14 | 43 | 67 | 75 | 82 | 16 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 39 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off |
High Tide | 11:52AM0.39m | 10:58PM0.25m | 12:43PM0.38m | 11:27PM0.23m | 1:37PM0.36m | 00:01AM0.22m | 2:38PM0.35m | 00:46AM0.21m | 3:42PM0.35m | 1:49AM0.21m | 4:42PM0.36m | 3:08AM0.22m | 5:31PM0.37m | 4:25AM0.24m | |||||||
Low Tide | 6:41PM0.17m | 5:21AM0.06m | 7:43PM0.19m | 5:59AM0.06m | 8:52PM0.20m | 6:45AM0.06m | 10:07PM0.20m | 7:41AM0.07m | 11:12PM0.20m | 8:45AM0.08m | 11:59PM0.20m | 9:52AM0.09m | 00:33AM0.20m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | |  |  | |
 | 6:07 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — |
mm | 2 | — | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 30 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | N 10 | N 10 | NE 13 | NNE 13 | ENE 6 | NNE 12 | NNW 9 | SE 6 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 14 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 35 | 14 | 17 | 29 | 34 | 33 | 31 | 18 | 18 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | SE 12 | N 14 | N 9 | N 8 | NNE 12 | N 6 | NNE 11 | ENE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | S 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 13 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | NE 10 | N 10 | N 15 | E 12 | E 12 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 9 | NNE 11 | NNE 10 | NNE 11 | ESE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | N 6 |
| kJ | 4 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 39 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 5 | E 6 | SE 7 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | — | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 |
| kJ | 35 | 32 | 43 | 67 | 75 | 82 | 88 | 59 | 81 | 74 | — | 40 | 30 | 24 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 15 | 18 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 853 | 1397 | 98 | 495 | 825 | 98 | 79 | 871 | 77 | 79 | 69 | 68 | 105 | 270 | 68 | 105 | 98 | 184 | 878 | 871 | 184 |
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.
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