Puerto Rico
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Middles, Puerto Rico. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 12s period, rated Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 1-2ft and mostly poor with calm winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 10mph by PM.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 9mph ESE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 17mph.
Mon, May 18: 0–1ft, 6s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 10mph E winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 15mph.
Tue, May 19: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with 9mph E winds. Expect the wind to bump up to around 15mph by PM.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 9mph E winds. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 17mph.
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Middles is one of the best surfing spots in Puerto Rico, a fast, barreling right-hander over rocky reef that has hosted the Rip Curl Pro Search and Corona Pro Surf Competition. Located behind the dunes north of Isabela, the wave is powerful and demanding, producing world-class barrels on N to NW swells. The exposed north-facing reef picks up virtually any Atlantic swell, making it one of the most consistent quality waves on the island.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Middles is 1-2ft with a 11.65s swell period. Wind is E at 10mph and conditions are rated Poor. The forecast updates hourly so you can plan your session around the cleanest windows.
The current breaking wave height at Middles is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.4ft NE primary swell at 7s, a 1.2ft NE secondary swell at 12s, a 0.7ft N tertiary swell at 8s, a 0.5ft E wind swell swell at 2s. 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 Middles is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.4s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Middles works best with a N swell and S 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 Middles. 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.
Middles is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to advanced surfers. Middles is one of the best surfing spots in Puerto Rico, a fast, barreling right-hander over rocky reef that has hosted the Rip Curl Pro Search and Corona Pro Surf Competition. Located behind the dunes north of Isabela, the wave is powerful and demanding, producing world-class barrels on N to NW swells. The exposed north-facing reef picks up virtually any Atlantic swell, making it one of the most consistent quality waves on the island.
The prime season at Middles 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 Middles include rocky reef, strong currents, powerful waves, sea urchins, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Middles 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
