Atalaia (Molhes) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mate, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at the surf coming up. The only spot on the radar is Atalaia (Molhes), a beach and jetty setup. There’s a bit of a slow start, so let’s just get into it.

The overall pattern is pretty modest. Through the first few days, we’ve got some small, weak swell but the wind is mostly onshore or cross for the afternoons, making it a morning-only game. The water temperature anomaly is about average for this time of year, so nothing unusual there.

Wednesday morning of the 15th is the first nod of surfable waves, but it’s only just. With a 4ft ESE swell, a period of 10 seconds, and glassy conditions, it’s clean but the combined energy is only 265 (moderate). It’s surfable, but very ordinary.

Thursday the 16th morning is a bit smaller at 3ft, still ESE, with a 10-second period. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NW, so it’s clean. Combined energy is 203 (moderate). It’s okay, but nothing to get excited about.

Friday the 17th morning sees a shift to a 4ft ENE swell, period dropping to 8 seconds. Clean again with a light NW cross-off. Combined energy sits at 204 (moderate). Still just ordinary.

The real standout in this whole outlook is Saturday morning, the 18th of July. The swell ticks up to 5ft from the ENE, still an 8-second period, but the wind is a light cross-offshore from the NW, keeping it clean. The combined energy climbs to 319 (moderate). This is the best we’ve got: a bit more size, clean conditions, and the swell is pushing into the beach/jetty setup. It’s good for an intermediate surfer. Crowds are reported as “sometimes,” so you might have some company.

Sunday morning the 19th is still clean with a 5ft ENE swell and offshore wind from the WNW, but the energy drops to 251 (moderate). A solid backup.

The pattern then settles into a series of mornings with clean, small surf between 3ft and 4ft, but it’s all very ordinary. The afternoons are consistently poor.

The next notable window is Saturday morning, the 25th of July, but it’s a write-off. Light rain, strong cross-onshore winds at 16 mph, and a messy 3ft swell. Not worth it.

Then, on the very last day of the forecast, Thursday the 30th of July, there’s a quality morning. A 5ft ENE swell, 8-second period, and glassy conditions with a light SSE breeze. The combined energy is 297 (moderate). The description says “expect good surf conditions.” This is a promising end to the run, but it’s far out, so keep an eye on it.

To sum it up: the best on offer is Saturday morning, the 18th of July, with clean 5ft ENE swell. Thursday the 30th also looks promising but is further out. If you’re a beginner, the 5ft is fine, but anything over 5ft later in the forecast (like the 27th) is pushing it for a learner. The short period of 8 seconds means it’s more local wind swell, and the beach/jetty setup will be fine for it.

Stay stoked, and get out there on the 18th.

Rusty

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