Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 16 Sep 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Wednesday 16 Sep, 8PM (local time) - 4ft (1.2m), 5s period, E swell with 77 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 1.2m 5s and forecast to arrive on Wednesday (Sep 16) at 8PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.4m 5s period and expected on Thursday (Sep 17) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 8PM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4ft (1.2m) 5s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you. We're looking at a 16-day window for The Reef in Culebra, and honestly, it's a tough one. The whole stretch is a write-off for decent paddle surfing. There's a long, dry gap of nothing worthwhile right from the start, and it just keeps rolling.
From Wednesday the 16th right through to the end of the month, the surf is tiny and the wind is a mess. We've got a fresh breeze out of the E smashing the place at 19 mph on the first day, creating lumpy cross-chop. The swell is barely showing, with a combined energy of just 74 (weak), and that's as good as it gets. The water's sitting at 85°, which is about what you'd expect for this time of year.
The wave energy does pick up a touch around the 23rd, hitting 143 (moderate) and 237 (moderate) with a longer period, but the wind is still cross or cross-onshore, and the swell heights are still under 2 ft. The forecast calls it "poor surf conditions" right through. Even when the wind eases to a gentle breeze on the 24th, the swell is too weak to do anything with.
For the first week of October, the pattern holds. Tiny, weak swell and light wind. There's no standout period, no hidden gem. This is a spot that needs a proper north swell and clean offshore wind to fire. Right now, it's got neither. A blank run like this is pretty normal for the area when the swell windows don't line up.
If you're desperate for a wave, you might find a knee-high ripple on the 23rd or 26th, but with the wind angles and the tiny size, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. I wouldn't bother suiting up.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Thu morning. Warm (max 29°C on Thu afternoon, min 28°C on Wed morning). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryModerate rain (total 16mm), heaviest on Mon morning. Warm (max 28°C on Sat morning, min 27°C on Sat morning). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | |||||||||||||||
AM | 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 5 | E 5 | NE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | ENE 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 9 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 65 | 67 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 29 | 38 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 23 | 17 | 24 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 30 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 12:43PM0.38m | 11:27PM0.23m | 1:37PM0.36m | 00:01AM0.22m | 2:38PM0.35m | 00:46AM0.21m | 3:42PM0.35m | 1:49AM0.21m | 4:42PM0.36m | 3:08AM0.22m | 5:31PM0.37m | 4:25AM0.24m | 6:12PM0.38m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 7:43PM0.19m | 5:59AM0.06m | 8:52PM0.20m | 6:45AM0.06m | 10:07PM0.20m | 7:41AM0.07m | 11:12PM0.20m | 8:45AM0.08m | 11:59PM0.20m | 9:52AM0.09m | 00:33AM0.20m | 10:55AM0.10m | 1:01AM0.19m | ||||||||
 |  |  | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | |  | | | | |
 | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — | 6:09 | — | — |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:19 | — | — | 6:17 | — | — | 6:16 | — |
mm | — | 2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | — | 2 | 4 | 1 | 4 |
Temp °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 29 | 29 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 10 | N 10 | NE 13 | NNE 13 | NNE 12 | SE 8 | ENE 7 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NE 8 | ENE 8 | ENE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 9 |
| kJ | 2 | 2 | 7 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 29 | 38 | 33 | 30 | 28 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 24 | 24 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 26 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | N 14 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | ENE 7 | NNW 9 | ESE 8 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | SE 5 | ENE 9 | ENE 8 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 7 | N 6 | N 6 | N 10 | NE 7 |
| kJ | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 17 | 6 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 15 | 23 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 8 | 13 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 15 | E 12 | E 12 | N 7 | — | NNE 12 | ESE 8 | NNE 11 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | SSE 5 | NE 7 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NNE 18 |
| kJ | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — | 14 | 6 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 30 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 5 | E 5 | E 5 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 6 | SE 6 | ESE 5 | ENE 7 | E 3 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 3 | SE 3 | SE 4 | ESE 4 | ESE 4 | E 5 |
| kJ | 65 | 67 | 94 | 91 | 106 | 65 | 27 | 40 | 19 | 20 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 13 | 21 | 33 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 671 | 825 | 74 | 79 | 79 | 79 | 105 | 105 | 39 | 105 | 585 | 68 | 105 | 105 | 184 | 853 | 853 | 763 | 853 | 454 | 68 |
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.
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