
Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 28 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 5AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, E swell with 332 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 8s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Jul 30) at 5AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Jul 29) at 2PM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5AM (Thu 30th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let's have a look at Culebra.
Honestly, mate, the outlook for the next 16 days is a bit of a dud. We've got a long stretch of poor surf conditions on the cards, especially for The Reef (Culebra). It's a reef break that's very consistent and exposed to the north, getting a clean face when the wind is from the south or offshore. The trouble is, the wind is just not playing ball.
The first real chance of anything surfable is going to be later on Wednesday afternoon, the 29th of July. Even then, the swell will be a short-period 5ft from the east at 6 seconds, which is lumpy, and a cross-off wind from the east at 22 mph won't help. It's a no-go. That sets the tone for the first week: persistent fresh breezes from the east and southeast throwing a cross-chop or cross-off wind onto a weak, mostly short-period swell. The combined wave energy is moderate on the 30th of July at 330, but the cross-wind and lumpy conditions will keep it unrideable.
We finally see a bit of a cleaner window on Saturday morning, the 1st of August. Swell drops to 4ft from the east at 8 seconds, and a moderate cross-off breeze from the ESE at 16 mph should clean it up. It's still small and weak (energy 181), but it's the best on offer. The crowd factor at The Reef is listed as "sometimes", so you might not have it to yourself, but it won't be a zoo.
There's a real gap after that. From the 1st of August right through to the 9th of August, it's the same story: small, weak, short-period slop and cross-shore winds. On Sunday the 9th, a 6ft east swell at 6 seconds shows up (energy 247), but it's again crossed up and messy. It looks more like a kite-surfing setup than anything for a paddle board.
Looking at the second week, from the 11th of August onward, the swell completely collapses, and we're left with tiny, insignificant energy readings. A brief cleaner moment on Wednesday the 12th afternoon with a light cross-off wind, but with a 0.7ft swell from the east-northeast at 10 seconds, there's nothing to ride.
The water temperature is sitting at 84°F with a +0.9° anomaly, which is pretty normal for the time of year. That's the only comfort.
So, bottom line: there are no true standouts here. Your best bet, if you're desperate, is the cleaner session on the morning of the 1st of August, but keep the expectations low. For the rest of the 16-day run, I'd say give the board a rest and do something else. Forecasts can change, and it rarely stays this poor for long, but right now, it's a blank run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Tue afternoon, min 27°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 24mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 27°C on Fri afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Tue 28 | Wednesday 29 | Thursday 30 | Friday 31 | Saturday 1 | Sunday 2 | Monday 3 | ||||||||||||||
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 | NE 8 | NE 9 | E 6 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NW 8 | ENE 7 | E 6 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
22 | 10 | 13 | 202 | 291 | 329 | 206 | 323 | 220 | 195 | 246 | 181 | 176 | 97 | 123 | 116 | 94 | 2 | 84 | 123 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 8:54PM0.38m | 7:34AM0.19m | 9:26PM0.39m | 8:27AM0.20m | 9:55PM0.39m | 9:20AM0.22m | 10:23PM0.38m | 10:14AM0.24m | 10:50PM0.36m | 11:09AM0.26m | 11:16PM0.33m | 12:07PM0.28m | 11:42PM0.30m | |||||||
Low Tide | 3:53AM0.14m | 1:58PM-0.00m | 4:23AM0.13m | 2:38PM0.02m | 4:49AM0.13m | 3:18PM0.05m | 5:12AM0.12m | 4:02PM0.07m | 5:33AM0.10m | 4:52PM0.10m | 5:55AM0.07m | 5:50PM0.13m | ||||||||
— | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:55 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | 1 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 26 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 7 | N 6 | SE 7 | — | SSE 6 | SE 8 | S 8 | SE 8 | S 8 | NW 8 | SE 5 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NW 8 | SE 6 | S 8 |
22 | 10 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 100 | — | 15 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 116 | 94 | 2 | 38 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 10 | ENE 10 | — | — | — | — | N 6 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 9 | S 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 7 | — | NW 7 | N 7 |
4 | 10 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | E 8 | N 9 | — | — | N 10 |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | — | — | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | E 6 | E 8 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 5 | ENE 8 | SE 5 | SE 4 | E 6 | ENE 7 | E 6 |
38 | 62 | 117 | 202 | 291 | 329 | 206 | 323 | 220 | 195 | 246 | 181 | 176 | 97 | 123 | 13 | 21 | 106 | 84 | 123 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1312 | 139 | 520 | 204 | 79 | 193 | 193 | 414 | 878 | 878 | 74 | 79 | 584 | 80 | 79 | 79 | 39 | 193 | 69 | 98 |
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.










