Barrinha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it.

The pattern for this stretch is a classic case of waiting for the good stuff. We’ve got a slow start, but Sunday morning coming up is the first real standout. After that, there’s a big lull, and then a promising but uncertain window opens up early next week.

Right now, Friday morning, the waves are a messy 4ft from the SSW with a short 7-second period, and the wind is cross-off at 9 mph. It’s surfable, but honestly, it’s ordinary. The combined energy is weak (188), so you’re not getting much push. The water temp is 66°, which is pretty much average for the time of year.

Friday afternoon picks up a bit to 6ft from the S, but the wind swings onshore and the conditions get poor. Saturday isn’t much better – 8ft but with a cross-off wind and a marginal forecast. The combined energy climbs to moderate (923), but the wind is messy.

Now, Sunday morning (23rd August) is where it’s at. Clear skies, a light 3 mph cross-off wind from the SW, and a solid 6ft swell from the S. The period jumps to 12 seconds, which is a proper groundswell, and the combined energy is strong (988). The waves will be clean and have some real shape. This is the best session on offer this week. The crowds are listed as “sometimes” at Barrinha, so you might have some company, but it’s nothing crazy.

Sunday afternoon stays similar in size but the wind goes cross-shore, so it’s a bit less perfect.

Monday morning (24th August) is a beast. We’re looking at a massive 10ft from the S with a 16-second period. That’s a very long period groundswell, and the combined energy is immense (3769). The wind is glassy, which is a dream. But – and this is a big but – 10ft is too big for this spot. The guidance says it’s too big for the break. This is only for experts, and even then, a long period swell like this can be tricky at a beach break. It’s a real shame about the wind being perfect, because the size is just too much.

After Monday, the conditions go downhill fast. Tuesday through to the end of the month we have a long stretch of poor surf, onshore winds, and dropping swell. The combined energy falls to weak levels (under 100). We’re looking at a blank run of about 5 to 6 days with no real recommendations.

The surf tries to come back on the morning of Tuesday, 1st September. A tiny 3ft from the E, but with glassy conditions. The combined energy is still weak (116), so it’s only just surfable.

The next real hope is Wednesday, 2nd September. Wednesday morning and afternoon both show 7ft to 8ft from the S with an 8-second period. The wind is offshore to cross-off, and the conditions are clean. The combined energy is moderate (585 to 652). This is a promising window, but it’s over a week away, so treat it as a hopeful call rather than a lock.

From Thursday, 3rd September, the wind turns onshore again and the quality drops. The rest of the forecast looks poor with onshore winds and dropping swell right through the end of the 16-day period.

So, your best bet is Sunday morning (23rd) for clean, chest-high groundswell. If you’re an expert and can handle heavy water, Monday morning (24th) could be a standout for the sheer size, but only if you’re comfortable with a 10ft+ wave. The long-range stuff on the 2nd of September is worth keeping an eye on.

Rusty, signing off.

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