Florida - East Coast
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 10mph from the ESE.
Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 10mph from the ESE.
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.
Thu, Sep 3: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with 10mph from the ESE.
Fri, Sep 4: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. First light looks cleanest — 1-2ft on NE swell at 5s with 8mph SSE winds. Things get a bit scrappier as the day goes on.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light SW winds.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with gentle WSW breeze.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 8s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with light WSW 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 Reef Road turns Good.
Check Reef Road from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
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 0-1ft with a 5.1s swell period. Wind is ESE at 11mph. 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 Reef Road is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.1ft NE wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.7ft ENE secondary swell at 9s. 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 Friday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 1ft waves, a 4.9s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. 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. 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).
