Atalaia (Molhes) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming our way.

First thing: the water temp is sitting at 66°F, which is dead average for the time of year, so nothing wild.

The first real window to get stoked about is Thursday morning, August 27 at Atalaia (Molhes). We’ve got a clean 3ft swell sneaking in from the SE with a 14-second period – that’s a proper groundswell packing moderate energy. The wind is a light NW 3 mph, coming cross-off, and that’s going to keep the faces smooth. The break is fairly consistent and open to the swell, so expect some nice lines. It’s an intermediate wave, not for total greenhorns, but anyone with a few sessions under their belt will be stoked. Crowds? Sometimes, so you might have a few others, but it’s not a circus.

Another sweet spot hits Monday morning, August 31. The swell drops a touch to 4ft from the east with a 9-second period, but the real story is the glassy conditions – light SW 3 mph and dead calm. Moderate wave energy in the water, but with that glass, it’ll feel way better than the numbers. Clean, fun walls for a morning session.

Then there’s Wednesday morning, September 2. This one’s a standout. A 3ft SE groundswell with a 12-second period – nice, long lines. Combined energy is moderate. The wind is glassy from the SE at 3 mph. This is a morning you set the alarm for. Tides and conditions should line up for some proper, lined-up surf.

There’s a bit of a lull through the middle of the first week of September, but hold on – Monday morning, September 7 brings a 5ft ENE swell, period of 8 seconds. That’s pushing into bigger territory, and with a light S 6 mph cross-wind, it might be a bit lumpy for the average surfer. But for anyone comfortable in the 5ft+ range, there’s some serious grunt. Wave energy is moderate-to-strong.

The real hidden gem for the second week? Tuesday morning, September 8. We’ve got 5ft from the ENE with an 8-second period, a light SSW 6 mph cross-off wind, and moderate wave energy. That’s clean, rippable, and tipping towards the intermediate-to-expert zone. If you want a solid session without the mob, this is your call.

And finally, a long-range promise: Friday morning, September 11. A small but clean 2ft groundswell from the ESE with a 12-second period and a WNW 6 mph cross-off wind. The combined energy is surprisingly punchy for the height – that’s the period doing the work. Glossy, clean morning with long, drawn-out rides. Not for the size junkies, but for the ones who love a smooth, long ride.

So here’s the takeaway: The standouts to circle on the calendar are Thursday morning, August 27, and Wednesday morning, September 2. Those are the cleanest, most consistent, and best-shaped of the whole stretch. Everything else is for those who want it, but those two mornings are the real deal.

Rusty.

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