Barra da Tijuca Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Barra da Tijuca over the next couple of weeks.

Right now, we’re in a bit of a flat spell. The first proper surf window shows up on the morning of Monday, July 21st. It’s not huge, but it’s a start. The water temp is sitting at 71°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

For the morning of July 21st, we’ve got clean conditions with a light offshore wind from the North. The swell is a small 3 ft out of the ESE, with a short period of 8 seconds and weak energy (77). It’s surfable, but very ordinary. The morning of July 22nd is a repeat – clean, 2 ft ESE, again weak energy (71). Nothing to get excited about, but something to wet the wetsuit.

The real standout comes on the morning of Sunday, July 26th. The wind goes dead calm, glassy as a mirror, with a 3 ft swell from the SSE. The combined energy picks up to 263 (moderate), and the forecast says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the best bet in the first week for a clean, fun session.

Another solid morning is Monday, July 27th. Light offshore breeze from the North again, 3 ft from the South with a 12-second period, and energy at 235 (moderate). The longer period means the waves will have a bit more shape. Tuesday morning, July 28th, is also clean with a light offshore, 3 ft South swell at 12 seconds (241 energy). Good.

Now, the second week starts to show some promise. Wednesday morning, July 29th, is clean with a 3 ft South swell, 12-second period, and energy jumping to 343 (moderate). The afternoon holds clean too with a cross-offshore breeze. Thursday, July 30th, sees the swell size bump up to 4 ft, but the wind swings cross-shore and picks up to 25 mph, making it choppy and messy. That’s one for the kite crew, not for paddle surfing.

The morning of Friday, July 31st, is glassy again with a 4 ft South swell, 12-second period, and energy at 381 (moderate). That’s a good one. Then on Saturday, August 1st, things get interesting: a 2 ft swell, but with a very long 17-second period from the SSE, and energy at 432 (moderate). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. This is a long-range standout, but don’t get too attached – that long period might make the sandbar at Barra da Tijuca a bit too straight, so keep an eye on the tide.

Sunday, August 2nd, has a 3 ft SSE swell at 14 seconds (560 energy), but a cross-shore wind from the West muddies it up. The best of the second week is likely the morning of Monday, August 3rd: clean cross-offshore wind, 4 ft from the SE, 8-second period, and energy at 238 (moderate). It’s not the biggest, but it’ll be fun.

Overall, the best on offer is the glassy morning of July 26th and the clean, long-period setup on August 1st. The rest is small and ordinary, but there’s enough to keep you in the water.

Rusty.

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