Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 22 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 29 Aug, 11AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 7s period, E swell with 271 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 1.7m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 29) at 11AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 29) at 5AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 11AM (Sat 29th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Howdy, Rusty here. Let’s be real—this 16-day stretch for The Reef (Culebra) is a dud. There’s a big empty gap from the start with hardly any surf worth paddling for. The water’s sitting at 85°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there.
Saturday the 22nd kicks off with a weak 3ft east swell, but with a 6-second period and a cross-shore breeze, it’s just messy. The combined energy is weak (59). Sunday the 23rd drops to 1ft, and it stays flat through Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th—tiny waves, cross winds, nothing to ride. Wednesday the 26th shows a bump to 3ft from the east, but the energy is only moderate (142) and the period is short at 8 seconds. Still poor.
The only blip comes Thursday the 27th morning. The swell is only 2ft from the northeast, but the period jumps to 13 seconds—a long-period groundswell. The energy is moderate (105), and the wind is a moderate cross-shore, but it’s clean. For a reef break, that long period might give you some nice lines, but the size is tiny. It’s the best of a bad bunch, but you’ll be scratching for a ride.
Friday the 28th brings a bigger swell—5ft to 5ft from the east—but with short 6-second periods, the energy is moderate (218-235). The wind is a fresh cross-shore, making it lumpy. The conditions are poor, and this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Saturday the 29th stays similar with 6ft east swell and poor conditions.
Sunday the 30th morning is the most interesting, but it’s still a mess. The swell hits 7ft from the east-northeast with a 7-second period, and the energy is strong (504). The wind is cross-shore, and it’s “marginal.” That’s 7ft—too big for beginners, and with a short period, it’s a wall of white water. Only for experts, and even then, it’s rough. The afternoon drops to 7ft with a 9-second period and more energy (689), but still cross-shore and poor.
After that, it fades fast. Monday the 31st has a 4ft east-northeast swell, but the wind is cross-onshore and choppy. Tuesday the 1st of September sees offshore wind from the south, but the swell is tiny—1ft to 3ft—with no energy. The afternoon is “surfable but very ordinary.” From Wednesday the 2nd through Saturday the 6th of September, it’s flat, with swell under 0.7ft and weak energy. The winds are clean, but there’s nothing to ride.
So, the standout is a tiny, clean window on Thursday the 27th morning with that long-period groundswell, but it’s a real struggle. The area is inconsistent, and this blank run is pretty normal. Don’t get your hopes up—forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a quiet spell.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sat afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Mon afternoon, min 28°C on Sat afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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 6 | E 4 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | E 5 | ENE 7 | NNE 6 | ENE 9 | E 8 | ENE 8 | NE 14 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
48 | 32 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 35 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 124 | 81 | 73 | 87 | 83 | 83 | 125 | 175 | 247 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 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 | 7:32AM0.26m | 8:43PM0.39m | 8:24AM0.29m | 9:11PM0.38m | |||||||
Low Tide | 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 | 1:48PM0.06m | 3:18AM0.15m | 2:34PM0.08m | 3:40AM0.13m | |||||||
— | — | 6:03 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | 6:05 | — | — | |
6:43 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:42 | — | — | 6:40 | — | — | 6:39 | — | — | 6:38 | — | — | 6:38 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | 2 | — | 3 | — | — | 3 | 2 | — | 4 | — | — | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 3 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | NNE 6 | ENE 9 | NE 16 | SE 6 | E 8 | NE 13 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 | NE 11 |
11 | 13 | 13 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 18 | 31 | 87 | 83 | 71 | 87 | 60 | 73 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 11 | ENE 8 | SE 9 | SE 11 | S 8 | SE 10 | NE 10 | NNE 7 | NNE 6 | SE 9 | NE 6 | NE 12 | NE 16 | NE 14 | N 6 | — | ENE 12 | NE 12 | — | N 15 |
12 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 38 | 73 | 1 | — | 14 | 6 | — | 4 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 8 | SE 8 | E 11 | — | — | — | — | SE 9 | SE 9 | N 11 | NE 11 | N 10 | NE 12 | NNE 11 | ENE 13 | — | — | — | — | — |
1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 17 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 4 | E 4 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | E 5 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 |
48 | 32 | 33 | 47 | 74 | 72 | 64 | 35 | 32 | 43 | 54 | 124 | 81 | 48 | 64 | 67 | 83 | 125 | 175 | 247 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 105 | 82 | 499 | 270 | 414 | 79 | 270 | 68 | 863 | 871 | 184 | 69 | 454 | 98 | 69 | 796 | 123 | 79 | 796 | 426 |
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.











