The Reef (Culebra) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, Rusty here. Look, I'm gonna level with you—this next 16 days is a tough stretch for the region. The Reef (Culebra) is about the only game in town, and she's a reef break that's very consistent, exposed to the north, and works best with swell from the north. The water temp is sitting at 85°, which is about 1° warmer than the long-term average, so it's pretty much what you'd expect for this time of year.

Right now, from Sunday the 23rd through to the end of August, it's a flat, frustrating mess. We're looking at tiny swell heights around 0.7 ft to 1.0 ft, with weak energy readings (6 to 18) and short periods around 6 to 8 seconds. The wind is a solid cross-shore from the east at 16 to 19 mph, which just adds to the chop. It's a write-off.

We get a little bump on Wednesday the 26th with swell pushing 3 ft from the ENE, and the combined energy jumps into the moderate range (121 to 131), but the period is still short at 8 seconds and the cross-shore wind keeps it messy. Thursday the 27th sees a long-period groundswell of 13 seconds, but the swell is only 2 ft from the NE, so the energy is moderate (177 to 145) but the waves are gutless. The pattern stays poor right through to the end of August. There's a solid gap of no real surf until the very end of the month.

Then, on Monday the 31st of August, things finally get a bit interesting. The morning brings a 4 ft swell from the ENE with a 13-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 524—strong energy. The wind turns cross-offshore from the east at 12 mph, which makes for clean conditions. The afternoon sees the swell nudge up to 5 ft from the same direction, with a 12-second period and energy at 613 (strong). Still, the wind is a gentle cross-shore from the east at 9 mph, creating a slight cross-chop. This is the best stretch in the entire outlook. A 4 ft to 5 ft groundswell with that long period is going to wrap nicely into The Reef, and with that offshore wind, it'll be clean. It's a standout window, but it's a Monday and Tuesday, so you might have to play hooky. The swell direction is ENE, which is a bit off the optimum north, but it'll still work. I'd be eyeing the Monday morning session.

The rest of the first week of September is a return to small, weak surf. Tuesday the 1st starts with a 4 ft swell from the ENE at 10 seconds and moderate energy (296), but it drops off quickly. The rest of the week is all 1 ft to 2 ft, with periods of 6 to 11 seconds and energy readings that are weak to moderate at best. The wind is mostly cross-offshore from the ESE at 12 to 19 mph, keeping it clean, but there's just no power.

The second week of September is quiet. Saturday the 6th sees a pulse of 6 ft from the east at 6 seconds, with moderate energy (241), but with a short period and cross-shore wind, it's going to be lumpy and messy. That's more of a kite-surfing day than a paddling one. After that, it's back to tiny, weak waves through to the 7th.

So, the call is simple: you've got a long, flat stretch until Monday the 31st of August. If you can get out Monday morning at The Reef, you'll be rewarded with a solid 4 ft groundswell, long period, and clean conditions. After that, the window closes fast. The rest is a waiting game. Keep an eye on the forecasts, but for now, sharpen your sticks and be ready for that Monday window.

Rusty.

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