Barra do Ceara Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s happening at Barra do Ceara.

Right, straight up: there’s no good surf on offer for the entire 16-day window. The first chance we see anything is Wednesday morning the 26th of August, with a 5ft east swell and a period of 8 seconds. The combined wave energy is moderate at 304, but the score is a flat 1 out of 10—marginal at best. The wind is a cross-off from the southeast at 12 mph, so the waves are clean, but the quality just isn’t there. Water temperature sits at 81°, which is about 2° warmer than average for this time of year—noticeably warm, but nothing too crazy.

From Wednesday afternoon onward, it’s all downhill. The wind swings onshore or cross-shore, the swell stays small and short-period (6–7 seconds), and every single session is marked as “poor surf conditions.” You’re looking at wave heights mostly between 4ft and 6ft, but the energy ranges from weak 124 to moderate 412—still, the cross-shore winds and short-period chop kill any chance of decent shape.

There’s a slight bump on Sunday the 30th of August morning, with 6ft east swell and a clean cross-off wind from the southeast at 16 mph, but the period is only 7 seconds, and the wave comment is still “poor surf conditions.” The energy is 412, which is moderate, but it’s not enough to save the session.

From the 31st of August through to the 10th of September, it’s the same story: east-northeast or east swell, 4ft to 6ft, periods stuck at 6–7 seconds, and winds are consistently cross-shore at 12–16 mph. The combined energy stays in the weak to moderate range (121–361), and every single entry is rated 0 out of 10.

This break is fairly consistent, but the quality just isn’t there. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, exposed to swell, but the short-period waves and persistent cross-shore winds mean you’re better off waiting for a change in the forecast. Crowds are sometimes an issue, but honestly, with surf like this, it won’t be crowded.

So, what’s the best on offer? There isn’t one. The whole 16-day stretch is a write-off. For paddle surfing, you’d be wasting your time. With the constant cross-shore wind and short-period chop, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. Keep an eye on the forecast—it tends not to stay poor for long around here.

Rusty.

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