
Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 24 Jul 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 30 Jul, 8AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, E swell with 368 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 8AM. 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 8s period and expected on Thursday (Jul 30) at 2AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8AM (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 folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a honest look at what’s coming up for The Reef in Culebra. I gotta be straight with you—this isn’t a week to be getting excited. The whole 16-day window is a bit of a struggle.
Overall Pattern
We’re looking at a stretch where the wind is just not our friend. For the most part, it’s blowing from the east and east-southeast, which is cross-shore or cross-offshore here, but it’s often too strong, keeping the surface lumpy and messy. The swell is hanging around the 3 ft to 6 ft range, but it’s nearly all short-period windswell, lacking any real punch. The water temp is about what you’d expect for this time of year, nothing wild.
The Forlorn Forecast
It kicks off on Friday, 24 July, and honestly, it’s a write-off. The Reef is seeing 4 ft easterly slop at a weak 7 seconds, but the wind is a fresh 22 mph cross-shore, making it a lumpy, cross-chop mess. The combined energy is a pitiful 159 (weak). That’s a hard pass.
Saturday 25 July is more of the same. The swell ticks up to 5 ft but the period is still short at 8 seconds, and the wind is still a fresh 19 mph cross-shore. The energy climbs a bit to 221 (moderate), but it’s not surfable with that wind.
Sunday 26 July offers a sliver of hope. The morning sees a moderate 16 mph cross-offshore breeze, which cleans things up. The swell is small at 4 ft, but it’s clean. Still, the period is a short 7 seconds, so it’s not going to have any grunt. The afternoon though, turns to risk of thunderstorms and a cross-shore wind, so it’s back to poor.
Monday 27 July is clean again with a gentle to moderate cross-offshore breeze, but the swell drops to 3 ft with a poor 8-second period. The energy is a weak 126. It’s a knee-high dribbler, not worth a paddle.
Tuesday 28 July is a total flat spell. Swell drops to 1 ft, energy collapses to 26 (weak). The wind is cross-offshore but it’s over a fresh breeze, so it’s just clean but tiny.
A Glimmer in the Gloom?
Wednesday 29 July sees a pulse of 5 ft to 6 ft swell, but the period is a terrible 6 seconds, so it’s just a short, bumpy windswell. The wind is a fresh 19 mph cross-offshore, so it’s clean, but that’s a lot of wind for that size. The energy jumps to 216-234 (moderate), but it’s not going to be shaped well.
Thursday 30 July is probably the best of a bad bunch. The swell is 6 ft from the east, with an 8-second period, and the morning is clean with a cross-offshore 19 mph breeze. The energy is the highest we see at 325 (moderate). It’s still a short-period lump, but it’s the only time the stars align a little bit. Still, it’s not a standout.
The Second Week
From Friday 31 July onward, it’s a mix of small, short-period pulses and flatter days. The wind picks up again, creating lumpy conditions. The swell drops to 3 ft and below, with a couple of days on 2-3 August where it’s almost flat (0.3 ft, energy of 2-6). The end of the window on 8 August sees a return of 4 ft, 6-second slop with a fresh cross-shore wind. Not good.
The Hard Truth
Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. There is no standout session here. The Reef is a very consistent spot, but it’s just not getting the right swell direction (it needs north swell) and the wind is messing everything up. The only break worth mentioning is The Reef itself, and it’s not delivering. For the whole 16 days, you’re looking at a long, drawn-out period of poor surf. It’s one of those stretches where the forecast can change, but right now, don’t bother.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 28°C on Thu night, min 27°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryHeavy rain (total 30mm), heaviest during Tue morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sun night, min 27°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||
Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | ||||||||||||||
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 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | ENE 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | N 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
66 | 159 | 144 | 201 | 221 | 186 | 126 | 183 | 131 | 83 | 124 | 127 | 33 | 22 | 26 | 14 | 202 | 232 | 1 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 2:42AM0.18m | 6:08PM0.33m | 3:37AM0.17m | 6:56PM0.34m | 4:40AM0.16m | 7:40PM0.35m | 5:41AM0.17m | 8:19PM0.36m | 6:39AM0.18m | 8:54PM0.38m | 7:34AM0.19m | 9:26PM0.39m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:19AM0.17m | 10:09AM-0.02m | 1:20AM0.16m | 10:59AM-0.02m | 2:06AM0.15m | 11:49AM-0.03m | 2:44AM0.15m | 12:35PM-0.02m | 3:20AM0.14m | 1:18PM-0.02m | 3:53AM0.14m | 1:58PM-0.00m | 4:23AM0.13m | ||||||
— | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:56 | — | — | 5:58 | — | — | |
6:59 | — | 6:59 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:57 | — | — | 6:57 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 1 | — | 1 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 7 | — | — | NE 8 | — | — | — | S 8 | — | ENE 8 | NE 7 | SSE 5 | E 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 10 | N 8 | N 7 |
66 | — | — | 17 | — | — | — | 1 | — | 83 | 2 | 3 | 33 | 22 | 26 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 8 | NE 7 | NE 11 | NE 10 | ENE 10 | — | N 8 | — |
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 | — | 1 | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 5 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 7 | E 5 | E 7 | E 7 | SE 5 | E 8 | E 8 | E 4 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 8 |
25 | 159 | 144 | 201 | 221 | 186 | 126 | 183 | 131 | 11 | 124 | 127 | 33 | 42 | 69 | 77 | 202 | 232 | 324 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 68 | 878 | 796 | 98 | 878 | 204 | 149 | 69 | 69 | 30 | 65 | 105 | 39 | 193 | 796 | 68 | 79 | 196 | 79 |
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.










