
Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 3 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 5PM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, E swell with 208 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 1.5m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 5PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Sep 09) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 5PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Hey folks, Rusty here. Well, I’ve gotta be straight with you – we’re looking at a pretty bleak 16-day window around Culebra. The Reef is the only break on the cards, and it’s not giving us much to work with. The whole period is a write-off for any decent surf. Honestly, it’s a long stretch of nothing, and it’s going to feel like forever.
We start off on Thursday, September 3rd, with tiny, weak waves. The swell is a pathetic 2ft from the east, with a short, choppy period of just 4 seconds. The combined energy is a measly 27 – that’s barely a ripple. The wind is a cross-off from the ESE at 12 mph, which keeps the surface clean, but there’s no power behind it. The water is sitting at 85°, which is about normal for the time of year, nothing wild there.
This same sad story plays out day after day. Friday and Saturday, the swell barely scrapes up to 3ft, still with a short period, and the energy stays in the doldrums (between 62 and 116). The wind stays a cross-off from the ESE, 12-16 mph, so the surface is clean, but it’s like trying to surf a lake with a light breeze. The waves are just not there.
We get a slight bump in the numbers on Thursday, September 10th, with the swell hitting 4ft from the east, and the combined energy jumps to 249. That’s a bit more push, but it’s still a short-period swell, and the wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-off. It’s still messy and un-rideable in any fun way. The same goes for Sunday, September 13th, when the swell reaches 5ft. That’s the biggest we see, but it’s wind-swell with a period of just 6 seconds, and the wind is coming straight onshore from the east at 16-19 mph, creating a lumpy, churned-up mess. The wave comment says "poor surf conditions" for every single entry, and every single score is a zero. There’s no standout, no hidden gem, nothing to get excited about.
Even the longer-period swell that shows up on Tuesday, September 8th, with a 12-second period, is only 1ft. It’s like a ghost of a swell. With the consistent cross-off wind, it’s clean, but there’s no height to work with.
So, to put it bluntly: don’t bother. The entire 16-day forecast is a bust. There are no gaps in the bad surf; it’s just one long, flat stretch. The Reef is a consistent spot, but it’s not producing. For a place that usually has some pulse, this is a real dud. Sometimes the ocean just shuts down, and this is one of those times. We’ll have to wait and see if the forecasts change, but right now, it’s a no-go.
Stay dry, folks.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Sat morning. Warm (max 28°C on Thu afternoon, min 28°C on Thu afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Sun afternoon. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 28°C on Sun afternoon). Mainly fresh winds. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 3 | Friday 4 | Saturday 5 | Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | ||||||||||||||
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 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NNE 11 | NE 11 | E 5 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
20 | 18 | 54 | 51 | 72 | 71 | 44 | 74 | 42 | 30 | 33 | 27 | 27 | 35 | 38 | 90 | 59 | 48 | 30 | 129 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross |
High Tide | 00:09AM0.23m | 3:04PM0.39m | 1:01AM0.21m | 4:15PM0.40m | 2:18AM0.21m | 5:21PM0.41m | 3:50AM0.22m | 6:18PM0.42m | 5:17AM0.24m | 7:06PM0.42m | 6:31AM0.28m | 7:49PM0.41m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:51PM0.20m | 7:04AM-0.01m | 10:25PM0.20m | 8:08AM-0.01m | 11:40PM0.19m | 9:22AM0.00m | 00:31AM0.18m | 10:39AM0.01m | 1:10AM0.17m | 11:50AM0.03m | 1:44AM0.16m | 12:57PM0.05m | 2:17AM0.14m | |||||||
— | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | 6:07 | — | — | |
6:34 | — | — | 6:32 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:30 | — | — | 6:29 | — | — | 6:29 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | — | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 30 | 29 | 30 | 28 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 29 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 9 | N 8 | ENE 8 | N 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | NNE 9 | NNE 10 | NNE 12 | NE 11 | NNE 11 | NE 11 | N 10 |
20 | 18 | 54 | 51 | 3 | 1 | 44 | 1 | 42 | 30 | 33 | 20 | 20 | 35 | 38 | 90 | 59 | 48 | 30 | 18 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | S 8 | S 8 | N 8 | S 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 9 | NE 10 | NE 10 | NE 13 | NE 12 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | N 12 | NE 11 |
10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 38 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 18 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 9 | SE 9 | — | — | — | — | S 8 | — | S 8 | N 10 | NE 11 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | N 10 | N 8 | — | — | — | NNW 7 | N 6 |
1 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 7 | 12 | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | ESE 3 | SE 4 | SE 4 | E 8 | E 8 | SE 5 | E 8 | SE 4 | SE 4 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | E 5 |
3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 72 | 71 | 10 | 74 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 52 | 90 | 108 | 137 | 146 | 175 | 129 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 105 | 270 | 68 | 184 | 105 | 39 | 105 | 105 | 39 | 105 | 105 | 39 | 105 | 105 | 68 | 193 | 79 | 98 | 79 | 796 |
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.










