Atalaia (Molhes) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cooking for this stretch. It’s a bit of a slow burner with a few good windows if you’re patient.

First up, the overall pattern. We’ve got some punch coming later in the week, but the start is a mixed bag. The water temp is sitting about average for this time of year, nothing weird going on there.

Monday the 14th kicks things off with some SSE swell around 4ft, period a short 7 seconds. The energy’s moderate (245) but the wind is a light cross-off, so the surface is clean. It’s surfable but nothing to write home about. By Monday afternoon, the period stretches to 9 seconds, the energy bumps up (312), and conditions are expected to be good. This is a solid little session at Atalaia (Molhes) – clean, light breeze, and the swell direction (SSE) is right on the money for the optimum. Not a standout, just a nice start.

Tuesday the 15th morning sees the swell drop to 3ft from the SE with a 9-second period. Energy is moderate (224), and with a light cross-off wind, it’s clean but small. The afternoon turns to junk with a cross-on ESE breeze and energy dropping to 137 – not worth it.

Wednesday the 16th morning brings a push – 5ft from the SSE at 7 seconds. It’s a bit short-period, but with a light S wind and energy at 363, it’s not bad. The afternoon goes rubbish again with that cross-on wind.

Now, Thursday the 17th morning is a real gem. The swell is tiny at 2ft, but it’s a long-period 12-second groundswell from the SE. Energy is weak (148), but the wind is glass. Totally glassy conditions. For the patient surfer on a longboard, that’s a beautiful, clean morning. The afternoon is blown out with onshore wind.

The weekend gets a bit sloppy. Saturday the 19th has a bigger 7ft ENE swell, but it’s howling onshore with moderate wind. Energy is strong (452) but it’s messy. This is more of a kite-surfing show than a paddle session.

Here’s my pick of the period. Sunday the 20th morning. The swell holds at 6ft from the ENE, with a 9-second period, and the wind swings to a light cross-off from the NW. Energy is strong (482) and the surface is clean. This is proper surf – solid, powerful waves. It’s a bit much for beginners at that size, but for the intermediate crowd at Atalaia, this is the best on offer. Crowds are sometimes a factor here, so get in early.

Monday the 21st morning is a nice follow-up. Swell drops to 5ft from the ENE, still a 9-second period, with a light cross-off. Energy is moderate (299) and it’s clean. Another good session before the wind turns onshore in the afternoon.

After that, the following week tails off. Tuesday the 22nd has a glassy morning with 4ft E swell (9-second period), but the energy is lower (243). Wednesday the 23rd is similar but smaller – 3ft with glassy conditions. By Thursday the 24th and Friday the 25th, it’s dropping to 4ft and 3ft, still clean in the mornings but very ordinary.

From Saturday the 26th onwards, it’s mostly small and variable, with onshore winds and energy dropping below 100 (94 on the 25th, 63 on the 28th). There’s a little bump on Tuesday the 29th with 4ft from the E, but it’s a short 6-second period and cross-on wind – poor conditions.

So, the standout is absolutely Sunday the 20th morning – clean, solid 6ft ENE swell with that light offshore breeze. Monday the 21st morning is a good backup. The rest is small and clean early, but not worth getting excited about until that weekend window.

Rusty.

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