Puerto Rico
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with moderate E wind around 11mph.
Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with moderate E wind around 11mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Inches for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Inches, Puerto Rico. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Thu, Sep 3: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 11mph E winds.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 11mph ESE winds.
Sat, Sep 5: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly very poor with 12mph E winds.
Sun, Sep 6: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Very Poor. Morning kicks off with 1-2ft on ESE swell at 5s.
Mon, Sep 7: 1–2ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and very poor with 10mph E winds.
Two days at a glance. Swipe for later hours.Five days at a glance. Drag for later hours.
Very Poor today — get one free email when Inches turns Good.
Check Inches from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Inches is one of the best left points in Puerto Rico, located on the south coast near Patillas where the reef produces barrels that can peel for 100+ yards on a good day. The name comes from both the typically small wave size (it's inconsistent) and the inches of water depth over the sharp coral reef. Works primarily on SE and S hurricane swells during summer/fall. Fire coral is a serious hazard — booties and a reef-safe approach are essential.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Inches is 1-2ft with a 4.1s swell period. Wind is E at 10mph. Conditions are rated Very Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Inches is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.5ft ESE wind swell swell at 4s, a 0.3ft ESE wind swell swell at 7s. Breaking wave height is the actual rideable wave size at the shore — calculated from offshore swell data using this spot's coastal bathymetry — not the raw buoy reading.
Based on the current 5-day forecast, the best window to surf Inches is Sunday from 2 PM to 5 PM with 1ft waves, a 4.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Inches works best with a S swell and N winds. Offshore winds groom the face of the wave, while onshore winds turn it sloppy. Cross-offshore conditions usually produce the cleanest shape.
Tide plays a big role at Inches. Mid tide works for most beach breaks, while reef and point breaks often prefer higher or lower stages. Use the tide chart above to line up your session with the swell peak.
Inches is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Inches is one of the best left points in Puerto Rico, located on the south coast near Patillas where the reef produces barrels that can peel for 100+ yards on a good day. The name comes from both the typically small wave size (it's inconsistent) and the inches of water depth over the sharp coral reef. Works primarily on SE and S hurricane swells during summer/fall. Fire coral is a serious hazard — booties and a reef-safe approach are essential.
The prime season at Inches is summer, when swell direction, wind patterns, and water temps line up most consistently. Outside the peak season you can still score, but you'll need to watch the forecast closely for the right windows.
Common hazards at Inches include fire coral, extremely shallow reef, sea urchins, strong currents, crowds on south swells. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Inches forecast uses NOAA GFS and other weather models combined with spot-specific bathymetry to calculate breaking wave heights. Short-range (1-3 day) forecasts are most reliable; extended forecasts show general trends. We also verify our offshore swell predictions against NOAA buoy measurements daily — see our accuracy page for those swell-verification metrics (buoys measure open-water swell, not breaking surf size).
