The Reef (Culebra) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it. We’re looking at Culebra for the next couple of weeks, and honestly, it’s a tough stretch. The Reef is the only spot on the menu, and it’s a north-facing reef that wants swell from the north, but we’re getting nothing but easterly wind and east swell. The water’s sitting about average for the time of year, nothing wild there.

The problem is the wind. It’s hammering from the east at 18 to 22 mph most of the time, and that’s putting a cross-shore or cross-off chop on the surface. The wave energy is weak, mostly under 200 (245), and the swell is short-period windswell, 7 seconds, so it’s lumpy and messy. Saturday the 25th and Sunday the 26th are a write-off. The waves are in the 4 ft to 5 ft range, but with that wind, it’s just a churned-up mess. The combined energy tops out at 245, which is moderate, but the quality is poor.

Monday the 27th cleans up a bit with lighter ESE winds, but the swell drops to 3 ft to 3 ft (energy 85 to 131). The waves are small, clean, and cross-off, but it’s not really rideable. That flat spell drags on through Tuesday the 28th and Wednesday the 29th morning, with waves barely 1.0 ft to 2 ft. Not worth paddling out.

Then Wednesday afternoon the 29th, a pulse of 6 ft east swell hits, but it’s still short period (7 seconds) and the wind is strong. The energy bumps to 274, but it’s still a messy cross-off chop. Thursday the 30th sees similar 5 ft to 6 ft swell (energy 359), but the wind switches back to cross-shore, so it’s lumpy again. Friday the 31st stays in the 5 ft to 5 ft range (energy 175 to 230), but it’s all cross-shore and lumpy.

The first week of August is more of the same. Saturday the 1st has 4 ft to 4 ft swell (energy 102 to 188), clean-ish on the afternoon, but nothing to get excited about. Sunday the 2nd the swell just dies – 0.3 ft, energy 2. That’s a flat day. Monday the 3rd picks up a little 5 ft east swell (energy 177), but it’s cross-shore wind again. The rest of the week stays small, 3 ft to 4 ft, and the wind doesn’t let up.

There’s no standout period here. The whole 16-day window is a bust for proper surf. The reef is exposed, but the wind and swell direction are all wrong. The only real takeaway is that if you’re desperate, Wednesday the 29th afternoon through Thursday the 30th has the most energy (359), but with the wind and short period, it’s not going to be a good time. If you’re a kitesurfer, the strong cross-shore winds and 5 ft+ chop might be your thing, but for a paddle surfer, leave the board at home.

Rusty.

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