Puerto Rico
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at San Juan, 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 barely a breath of wind. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 14mph.
Sun, May 17: 0–1ft, 11s period, rated Very Poor. Pretty quiet out there — 0-1ft and mostly very poor with 7mph SE winds. Afternoon breeze fills in to 15mph.
Mon, May 18: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Slim pickings today — 1-2ft and poor with moderate ESE wind around 8mph. Afternoon breeze fills in to 14mph.
Tue, May 19: 2–3ft, 9s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 9s with 8mph from the ESE. The E wind kicks in by afternoon — 16mph and poor by then.
Wed, May 20: 1–2ft, 8s period, rated Poor. Dawn patrol is the move — 2-3ft on ENE swell at 8s with gentle ESE breeze. Onshore flow builds through the day to 15mph, bringing conditions down to poor.
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Located along the northern coast of Puerto Rico near the historic capital city, San Juan offers reef-driven waves that light up during the North Atlantic swell season from November through March. The NNW-facing exposure at these coordinates positions the break perfectly to receive groundswells generated by winter storms tracking across the North Atlantic, producing punchy, fast-breaking waves with good shape. This spot blends an urban surf culture with surprisingly quality surf, making it a convenient session for both locals and traveling surfers exploring Puerto Rico's vibrant north shore.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at San Juan is 1-2ft with a 11.55s 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 San Juan is 1-2ft, produced by a 1.8ft ENE primary swell at 5s, a 1.5ft NE secondary swell at 12s, a 1.4ft ENE tertiary 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 San Juan is Tuesday from 6 AM to 9 AM with 2ft waves, a 8.45s swell period, and conditions rated Fair. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
San Juan works best with a N swell and SE 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 San Juan. 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.
San Juan is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to intermediate surfers. Located along the northern coast of Puerto Rico near the historic capital city, San Juan offers reef-driven waves that light up during the North Atlantic swell season from November through March. The NNW-facing exposure at these coordinates positions the break perfectly to receive groundswells generated by winter storms tracking across the North Atlantic, producing punchy, fast-breaking waves with good shape. This spot blends an urban surf culture with surprisingly quality surf, making it a convenient session for both locals and traveling surfers exploring Puerto Rico's vibrant north shore.
The prime season at San Juan is winter, 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 San Juan include shallow reef, urchins, strong currents, boat traffic, urban runoff, localism. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our San Juan 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.
