Atalaia (Molhes) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a slow start this week at Atalaia (Molhes), but patience will pay off big by mid-to-late next week. There’s a real window coming that’s worth clearing the calendar for, especially if you can handle a bit of size.

Right now, on Thursday 2 July, the swell is small and messy. Only 2ft from the ENE with a short 8-second period, and the combined energy is weak (75). The water is a bit colder than normal at 64°F, which is about 3°F below what we’d expect for this time of year – a little cool, but nothing crazy. A glassy morning will make those tiny waves look better than they are, but honestly, it’s ordinary.

Through Friday and Saturday the swell stays small, mostly under 4ft, and the wind is cross-on or cross-off with a bit of chop. The energy picks up a little through Saturday (263 to 309), and we start seeing some longer-period groundswell (12 to 13 seconds), but the conditions are still just marginal. Not worth rushing out for.

Sunday 5 July is a bit of a tease: glassy morning with 3ft of SE swell, 11-second period, moderate energy (248). It’s clean and could be a fun little session if you’re keen for a paddle – but it’s very ordinary surf.

The real story starts Monday 13 July. Monday morning sees a jump: 5ft from the S with an 8-second period, but it’s clean with a moderate offshore wind from the west (12 mph) and strong energy (468). The afternoon is even better: 4ft from the SE, 11-second period, and a 486 energy reading, still with that clean offshore west wind. This is good surf.

Tuesday 14 July morning is the standout. Clean offshore west-southwest wind, 5ft from the ESE with an 11-second period, and the combined energy hits 617 – that’s moderate-to-strong wave energy now. The swell direction (ESE) lines up really well with the optimum SSE direction for the break. This is the session to target if you’re intermediate level. Crowds are possible here sometimes, but with a bit of size like that, the pack should thin out. A heads-up: that 5ft is getting into the territory where beginners might find it a handful.

Wednesday 15 July morning looks like another top pick. Still 5ft from the ESE, now with a 12-second period, and the energy climbs to 749 – that’s strong. Clean, cross-off wind from the northwest at 6 mph. This is very good surf, long-period groundswell that will hold up nicely.

Thursday 16 July morning is the best of the window in my opinion. You’ve got 5ft from the ESE, a 13-second period – that’s proper long-period groundswell – and the energy is pumping at 803. Offshore west wind at 6 mph, clean. This is for experts: anything over 8ft is only for the crew, but 5ft with that power and clean conditions will have the Molhes wave peeling beautifully. The long period means the sets have energy, and the gaps between them make the paddle-out easier at a jetty break like this. A genuine standout.

After that, Friday 17 July holds good surf in the morning (4ft, 12-second period, clean cross-off, energy 589), but the afternoon gets messy with onshore south wind and chop.

So, to sum it up: the first ten days are pretty quiet – small, ordinary surf. Don’t bother until Monday 13 July. The true standouts are Tuesday 14 July morning and Thursday 16 July morning. If you can only pick one, go Thursday morning – that’s the best of the lot.

Stay frothy,
Rusty

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