Atalaia (Molhes) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, this is Rusty comin' at ya from the beach. Let's have a look at what the next couple of weeks are shaping up like for Atalaia.

First off, the opening of the forecast period on Sunday the 13th is a bit of a write-off. The swell is small, the wind is messy, and the waves are just plain poor. We’re basically waiting until Monday the 14th to see something worth paddling out for.

Monday morning will be small and a little ordinary, but it's a start. The real kick-off comes Monday afternoon. We've got a 4 ft swell rolling in from the SSE with a 9-second period, and the wind is a light cross-offshore from the SW. That combo is giving us clean, surfable waves and the energy is starting to build, sitting at a moderate 312. It's not huge, but it's the first proper window of the run.

Tuesday the 15th morning is the next standout. The wind drops to glassy, and the swell is a clean 3 ft from the SSE. It’s small and clean, perfect for a longboard or a fun little log. The wave energy is a moderate 223. That afternoon gets chopped by a cross-onshore wind, so get on it early.

Now, Wednesday the 16th morning is where things get interesting. We’ve got a solid 5 ft swell from the SSE with an 8-second period. The kicker is the glassy conditions – dead calm wind. The wave energy is a solid 413, which is moderate but building. This is a real good window for a surfer who knows their way around a beach break. It’s going to be clean and punchy. After that, the winds turn onshore and chop it up in the afternoons for a few days.

The weekend of the 20th and 21st looks promising. Saturday the 19th is a write-off with onshore wind and a messy 7 ft swell. But Sunday the 20th morning is a beauty. The wind goes glassy from the NW, and we’ve got a 5 ft swell from the ENE with a 9-second period. That’s a moderate 434 energy and it’s going to be clean. Monday the 21st morning is also a strong option with a 5 ft ENE swell and a light cross-offshore wind from the WNW, keeping it clean.

After that, the forecast gets a bit patchy through the middle of the second week. There are windows of clean conditions, like Thursday the 24th afternoon with a glassy 3 ft swell, and Friday the 25th morning with a clean 3 ft swell. Nothing huge, but good for a paddle.

The true standout of this whole run is Wednesday the 16th morning at Atalaia (Molhes). With a 5 ft swell from the SSE, glassy conditions, and moderate energy (413), it’s going to be a clean, fun session for intermediate surfers. The water temp is 67°, which is about average for the time of year, so no surprises there. Crowds are listed as 'sometimes', so you might have a few others out, but it's worth it.

The second best is probably Monday the 21st morning. The swell is 5 ft from the ENE, with a clean cross-offshore wind from the WNW, and moderate energy (333). It’s a bit of a longer-period swell (9 seconds), so it’ll have a bit more shape. Both of these are the ones to circle on the calendar.

For the beginners: keep an eye on Tuesday the 15th morning and Thursday the 24th afternoon. Those glassy, small days will be perfect.

A few days in the middle of the second week, like around the 23rd and 26th, are pretty poor with onshore wind and messy conditions. But overall, there’s enough on the table to keep you busy.
Stay salty.
- Rusty

Read more