
Surf Forecasts:
The Reef (Culebra) surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 2AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, E swell with 742 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 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 2AM. 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 6s period and expected on Thursday (Aug 13) at 11AM.
| Wave Type | Time (AST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 2AM (Sat 15th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef (Culebra) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, looking at the options for Culebra over the next couple of weeks. To be honest, the first week or so is a write-off – we’ve got a run of poor surf conditions starting from Sunday and running right through til Monday the 18th. The wind is mostly a fresh cross-shore breeze coming out of the east at 19 mph, just chopping everything up, so the water's a mess. The swell is around 4 ft to 5 ft from the east, but with a short period of 6 seconds and weak to moderate energy (228), it's not doing us any favours. It’s a bit of a frustrating start, but we do have some light at the end of the tunnel.
The standout of the whole forecast arrives on Tuesday the 18th of August with a solid pulse of easterly groundswell. We’re looking at The Reef (Culebra) getting a clean, 4 ft swell from the ENE (optimum for the break) with a period stretching out to 10 seconds and a combined energy of 369 (moderate). The wind swings around to a light breeze from the ESE at 6 to 9 mph, which is a clean cross-offshore, meaning the wave faces will be smooth and groomed. This is the best on offer – the wind is light and clean, the swell direction lines up perfectly, and it’s a very consistent reef break. Just a heads up, it’s intermediate-level and can get crowded sometimes, but with this quality, it’s worth it. The sea temps are sitting at 84°, which is about normal for this time of year.
Beyond that, the swell drops off quickly. Wednesday the 19th has a tiny 2 ft wave from the ENE, and from Thursday the 20th through to the end of the window, it’s all under 2 ft with very low energy (below 100), so we’re looking at a flat spell for over a week. Some of those days are glassy, but there’s just nothing coming through to ride.
So, to wrap it up: the whole first week is a no-go, but if you can hold on, Monday the 18th of August and that Tuesday are your window. After that, it’s time to get the gear out and wait for the next swell.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Mon night. Warm (max 29°C on Sun afternoon, min 27°C on Mon night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 28°C on Wed morning, min 27°C on Wed night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 5 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 5 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
206 | 139 | 121 | 144 | 106 | 44 | 64 | 48 | 90 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 258 | 466 | 653 | 699 | 742 | 567 | 217 | 154 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 6:41PM0.41m | 4:54AM0.19m | 7:34PM0.43m | 6:13AM0.20m | 8:22PM0.43m | 7:24AM0.23m | 9:04PM0.42m | 8:30AM0.27m | 9:42PM0.41m | 9:32AM0.30m | 10:17PM0.37m | 10:30AM0.32m | 10:48PM0.34m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:41AM-0.06m | 1:51AM0.16m | 11:48AM-0.06m | 2:30AM0.15m | 12:51PM-0.05m | 3:07AM0.14m | 1:52PM-0.02m | 3:41AM0.12m | 2:50PM0.01m | 4:13AM0.11m | 3:47PM0.05m | 4:45AM0.09m | 4:45PM0.09m | ||||||||
6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:03 | — | — | |
— | 6:52 | — | — | 6:51 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:49 | — | — | 6:47 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
Feels °C | 27 | 28 | 28 | 27 | 29 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 27 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 9 | SE 8 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | SE 6 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 12 | NNE 11 | NNE 12 | SE 9 | SSE 8 |
19 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 11 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 25 | 26 | 159 | 25 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 12 | NE 9 | — | E 11 | NE 9 | NE 9 | E 10 | SSE 5 | S 8 | N 7 | NE 8 | N 15 | N 14 | N 13 | N 8 | — | — | N 8 | N 7 | SSE 8 | NE 11 |
3 | 12 | — | 2 | 13 | 19 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 28 | 30 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNE 11 | — | — | — | ESE 7 | NE 8 | E 10 | N 8 | N 11 | NE 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 11 | N 7 |
— | 12 | — | — | — | 9 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 32 | 1 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ENE 5 | E 6 | ENE 6 | E 5 | E 5 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | E 8 | ENE 7 | E 6 |
206 | 139 | 121 | 144 | 106 | 44 | 64 | 48 | 90 | 75 | 74 | 119 | 200 | 258 | 466 | 653 | 699 | 742 | 567 | 217 | 154 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 671 | 825 | 98 | 270 | 270 | 98 | 878 | 871 | 69 | 520 | 193 | 149 | 878 | 196 | 196 | 204 | 878 | 520 | 868 | 878 | 452 |
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.











