Puerto Rico
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with moderate WNW wind around 11mph.
Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with moderate WNW wind around 11mph.
Conditions stay similar this week — check the hourly forecast at Tres Palmas for the cleanest windows.
Here's how the next 5 days are shaping up at Tres Palmas, Puerto Rico. 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, 4s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with 11mph from the WNW.
Fri, Sep 4: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with light winds out of the ESE. Expect the wind to bump up to around 8mph by PM.
Sat, Sep 5: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. A slow one — 0-1ft waves and very poor conditions with gentle ESE breeze. Winds do pick up a bit by the afternoon to 12mph.
Sun, Sep 6: 0–1ft, 7s period, rated Very Poor. Not the most exciting day — 0-1ft and very poor conditions with barely a breath of wind. Expect the wind to bump up to around 7mph by PM.
Mon, Sep 7: 0–1ft, 9s period, rated Very Poor. Slim pickings today — 0-1ft and very poor with light ENE 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 Tres Palmas turns Good.
Check Tres Palmas from the lineup
Forecasts, surf alerts, and live conditions in the Swell Intel iPhone app.
Tres Palmas is the premier big-wave spot in the Caribbean, an outer reef break that doesn't even begin breaking until swells reach double-overhead (8+ foot faces) and can hold 20-30 foot waves. Located just offshore from Steps Beach, the reef's proximity to the Puerto Rico Trench — the deepest point in the Atlantic, 30 miles away — helps focus long-period swells into massive peaks. Protected as Reserva Marina Tres Palmas since 2004, this is strictly expert territory with three distinct reef sections.
Wave heights shown are breaking wave heights — the actual rideable wave size at this spot.
The current wave height at Tres Palmas is 0-1ft with a 4.2s swell period. Wind is WNW 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 Tres Palmas is 0-1ft, produced by a 1.3ft NE wind swell swell at 4s, a 0.5ft SSE wind swell swell at 5s, a 0.5ft ENE wind swell swell at 8s. 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 Tres Palmas is Tuesday from 8 AM to 11 AM with 1ft waves, a 10.8s swell period, and conditions rated Poor. Check the hourly forecast for updates as conditions can shift.
Tres Palmas works best with a NW swell and NE 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 Tres Palmas. 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.
Tres Palmas is a reef with a reef bottom, suited to expert surfers. Tres Palmas is the premier big-wave spot in the Caribbean, an outer reef break that doesn't even begin breaking until swells reach double-overhead (8+ foot faces) and can hold 20-30 foot waves. Located just offshore from Steps Beach, the reef's proximity to the Puerto Rico Trench — the deepest point in the Atlantic, 30 miles away — helps focus long-period swells into massive peaks. Protected as Reserva Marina Tres Palmas since 2004, this is strictly expert territory with three distinct reef sections.
The prime season at Tres Palmas 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 Tres Palmas include shallow reef, strong currents, heavy wipeouts, sea urchins, localism, large surf. Always check conditions before paddling out, respect local etiquette, and never surf alone if you're unfamiliar with the break.
Our Tres Palmas 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).
