Florida - East Coast
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Reef Road for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Reef Road, Florida - East Coast. Each day is rated based on breaking wave height, swell period, and wind — updated hourly from the latest NOAA GFS run.
Tue, Jun 30: 1–1ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1ft and poor with barely a breath of wind. Afternoon breeze fills in to 9mph.
Wed, Jul 1: 1–2ft, 9s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1ft waves and poor conditions with gentle NNW breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 10mph.
Thu, Jul 2: 2–3ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NNE swell at 7s with glassy conditions. Onshore flow builds through the day to 11mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
Fri, Jul 3: 2–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. Early morning is your best window — 2ft waves on NNE swell at 7s with light winds out of the SE. The ESE wind kicks in by afternoon — 12mph and poor by then.
Sat, Jul 4: 1–2ft, 7s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with light winds out of the SE.
Reef Road is the most famous surf spot in South Florida — what Sebastian Inlet is to Central Florida. When big NE swells are running, long, muscular lefts wrap around Palm Beach Inlet's south jetty and push down the limestone reef for over 100 yards, steep and hollow with board-snapping power. The break dredges hard and can barrel the whole way. Works maybe 5% of the time in peak months. No public parking within 2 miles.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Reef Road is 1ft with a 8.55s swell period. Wind is E at 8mph 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 Reef Road is 1ft, produced by a 0.5ft ENE primary swell at 9s, a 0.3ft E wind swell swell at 3s. 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 Reef Road is Thursday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 2ft waves, a 7.35s swell period, and conditions rated Poor - Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Reef Road works best with a NE swell and W 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 Reef Road. 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.
Reef Road is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Reef Road is the most famous surf spot in South Florida — what Sebastian Inlet is to Central Florida. When big NE swells are running, long, muscular lefts wrap around Palm Beach Inlet's south jetty and push down the limestone reef for over 100 yards, steep and hollow with board-snapping power. The break dredges hard and can barrel the whole way. Works maybe 5% of the time in peak months. No public parking within 2 miles.
The prime season at Reef Road is fall, 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 Reef Road include shallow reef, strong currents, crowds, sea urchins, occasional sharks, boat traffic. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Reef Road 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. Visit /public/accuracy for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
