Baleal Sul Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s ahead for us.

So, right off the bat, I gotta level with you: this run ain't looking pretty. We’re talking about Baleal Sul, and the story for the next couple of weeks is mostly one of lumpy, blown-out conditions. The swell direction is from the west-northwest and northwest, which isn't what this spot wants to see—it's looking for a west swell. And the wind... man, it's just relentless, pouring over the headland and ruining any chance of a clean face.

We start on Wednesday the 12th of August. The surf is a tiny 3 ft with a period of 9 seconds, but it’s blown out by a 12 mph NNW wind. It's messy right through the end of the first week. The wave energy is weak, sitting at 274 for the afternoon. Water temp is a comfortable 70°, which is pretty average for this time of year so nothing unusual there.

Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are more of the same: small swell with onshore winds. By Friday afternoon the swell bumps up to 5 ft, but the period drops to a short and weak 6 seconds, and that northwest wind is howling at 19 mph. Honestly, the combined wave energy is still only moderate at 305.

Over the weekend, it gets bigger but uglier. Saturday the 15th sees 8 ft swell, but it’s accompanied by strong onshore winds and a short period. The wave energy jumps into the moderate range (915 to 925), but the quality is just poor. Not a surfer’s wave.

Now, there is a tiny glimmer. On the morning of Tuesday the 18th, we get a brief window. The wind drops to zero, going glassy. The swell is still 5 ft from the NNW with a short 8-second period, and the wave energy is moderate at 353. It’s described as “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” For a sheltered spot like Baleal Sul, that glassy wind is a major positive—it’ll look better than anything else in this run. But it’s inconsistent, so you’re gonna be sitting around waiting for a set.

After that little tease, it’s back into the grinder. From Wednesday the 19th right through to the end of the month, we’ve got a solid run of 4 ft to 8 ft swell, all from the NNW and NW, hammered by 12 to 19 mph onshore winds. The wave energy gets strong, hitting 1029 on the morning of Saturday the 22nd, but with that wind, it's just a washed-out mess. By the 24th and 25th, the swell dies right down to 1 ft and 3 ft, with weak energy in the double digits.

The only real standout, if you can call it that, is that Tuesday morning the 18th. The glassy conditions at Baleal Sul (Peniche) are a rare treat in this forecast, even if the swell is ordinary. That’s your best bet, but don’t get your hopes up—it’s a one-session window before the wind returns. Everything else is a write-off for paddle surfing. With these strong onshore winds and a beach/reef setup, this stretch honestly looks more interesting for the kite crew than anyone with a shortboard.

Stay patient, folks. Sometimes you just gotta take the L.

Rusty.

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