Surf Forecasts:
The Reef surf forecast from 23 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 27 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 26 Jul, 4AM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 8s period, NNW swell with 672 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 27 Jul, 10AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for The Reef this week:
The surf forecast for The Reef over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Jul 27) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 12s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at The Reef in the next 16 days are 2.3m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Jul 26) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 12s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 25) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 27th Jul) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 26th Jul) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for The Reef over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the forecast for The Reef. It’s not the prettiest picture, but we’ll find the windows.
We’re starting off with a real dud. The first few days are a total scratch, with a tiny 1ft swell from the WNW and a messy cross-onshore wind making it a complete waste of time. The wave energy is a weak 65 (65), so there’s nothing to work with. This poor spell sticks around for a few days, with Thursday and Friday looking like a write-off due to choppy, onshore winds.
Things pick up in size on Saturday the 25th, with the swell hitting 5ft from the NW by the morning, and the energy climbing to 255 (255). But don’t be fooled – that fresh cross-onshore wind is going to turn it into a lumpy, blown-out mess. Sunday the 26th sees even more size, with 7ft from the NNW and a hefty energy of 563 (563), but again, it’s trashed by a strong cross-shore wind. That’s big-wave territory, and with the wind howling, it’s not going to be a fun one.
The first real ray of light comes on Monday morning, July 27th. The swell drops to a more user-friendly 5ft from the NNW, and the wind switches to a light cross-offshore breeze. The energy is still solid at 372 (372), and the conditions are clean. That’s your best bet right there. The morning session is the clear winner, because the afternoon turns lumpy again.
We then hit a few more days of frustrating cross-shore winds and poor surf, with the swell sitting around 5ft to 3ft. It’s a flat spell of energy.
Looking into the second week, Sunday, August 2nd, has a bit of a wildcard. The swell is a solid 6ft from the NNW with a massive energy of 563 (563) again. The wind is light from the SW, making it a light cross-onshore. The reports call it marginal, but with that much power and a light wind, it could be a diamond in the rough for the brave. The 9-second period is okay, but the size is serious, so it’s for the experts only.
The rest of the first week of August just looks like more of the same: average swell heights, but constantly chopped up by moderate to fresh cross-shore winds. The energy is there, but the wind just won’t play ball.
The Standout: The clear winner is Monday morning, July 27th. The Reef is a reef break, so it will handle the 5ft NNW swell beautifully, and that light cross-offshore wind will have it looking like a postcard. Keep in mind The Reef is “often” crowded, so get in early to snag the best waves.
This is Rusty, signing off.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Winds increasing (light winds from the NW on Wed night, fresh winds from the NNW by Sat afternoon). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Mon morning, min 18°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Sat night, light winds from the NNW by Mon night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 23 | Friday 24 | Saturday 25 | Sunday 26 | Monday 27 | Tuesday 28 | Wednesday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 9 | NNW 7 | N 7 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 27 | 25 | 25 | 34 | 72 | 96 | 255 | 327 | 508 | 563 | 349 | 286 | 280 | 214 | 368 | 355 | 297 | 249 | 230 | 204 | 124 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross | cross |
High Tide | 10:46AM2.12m | 11:21PM2.03m | 11:56AM2.15m | 00:32AM2.06m | 12:58PM2.24m | 1:29AM2.15m | 1:48PM2.38m | 2:14AM2.28m | 2:30PM2.52m | 2:53AM2.39m | 3:07PM2.67m | 3:28AM2.50m | 3:42PM2.79m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 4:19AM0.96m | 5:05PM1.00m | 5:31AM1.00m | 6:19PM0.96m | 6:37AM0.96m | 7:19PM0.86m | 7:30AM0.85m | 8:06PM0.72m | 8:14AM0.72m | 8:46PM0.58m | 8:51AM0.58m | 9:22PM0.46m | 9:26AM0.46m | 9:56PM0.36m | |||||||
 | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:30 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:31 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:33 | — | — | 6:35 | — | — |
 | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:53 | — | — | 8:52 | — | — | 8:52 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 21 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 24 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 19 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | N 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | S 12 | S 12 | S 11 | S 15 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | WNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 11 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | 24 | 25 | 24 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 16 | 26 | 280 | 214 | 368 | 355 | 6 | 249 | 230 | 22 | 124 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | N 13 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | N 11 | WNW 10 |
| kJ | 27 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 17 | 77 | 121 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 23 | 9 | 38 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 8 | SW 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 12 | — | — | — | — | S 15 | — | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | W 13 | — | W 8 | — | — | NNW 11 |
| kJ | 6 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 4 | — | 15 | 15 | 15 | 3 | — | 5 | — | — | 11 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 5 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | NW 7 | NW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | NNW 9 | — | — | NNW 8 | — |
| kJ | 8 | 21 | 25 | 34 | 72 | 96 | 255 | 327 | 508 | 563 | 349 | 286 | — | — | — | — | 297 | — | — | 204 | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 673 | 449 | 275 | 591 | 494 | 177 | 30 | 435 | 231 | 231 | 552 | 29 | 0 | 202 | 29 | 29 | 216 | 29 | 29 | 215 | 38 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Ericeira | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the The Reef Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for The Reef 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 can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our The Reef 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) 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 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.
The Reef is 15 km (9 miles) from the city of Sintra. If you plan a holiday in Ericeira, look for hotels and other accommodation in Sintra. Sintra has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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