Florida - East Coast
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.
Sat, May 16: 1–2ft, 5s period, rated Poor. A slow one — 1-2ft waves and poor conditions with 16mph ESE winds.
Sun, May 17: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Not the most exciting day — 1-2ft and poor - fair conditions with moderate E wind around 11mph.
Mon, May 18: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Slim pickings today — 2-3ft and poor - fair with 12mph E winds.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Pretty quiet out there — 2-3ft and mostly poor - fair with moderate E wind around 11mph.
Wed, May 20: 2–3ft, 5s period, rated Poor - Fair. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on NE swell at 5s with moderate ESE wind around 8mph. Wind fills in through the day, pushing up to 12mph from the ESE and dropping conditions to poor.
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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 1-2ft with a 4.15s swell period. Wind is ESE at 15mph 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 1-2ft, produced by a 0.7ft NNE primary swell at 7s, a 0.3ft ENE secondary swell at 8s, a 0.3ft NE tertiary swell at 11s, a 1.8ft E wind swell swell at 4s. 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 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 4.35s swell period, and conditions rated 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. See the forecast accuracy card above for per-spot and regional performance metrics.
