Barrinha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s ahead for our local stretch.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a big, meaty pulse arriving on Sunday afternoon (Sept 6th). Swell is coming in at 10ft from the south with a 10-second period. That’s a lot of water – combined wave energy is a hefty 1509, so it's got real power behind it. The wind is a cross-offshore from the SSW at 18 mph, which will keep things pretty clean, but honestly, this is a serious size. For anyone but the most experienced, this is going to be too big and intimidating. The water temp is sitting at 65°, which is about spot on for the time of year, nothing unusual there.

That Sunday blast will be a bit much for most, so the real sweet spot rolls in on Monday morning, Sept 7th. The swell drops back to a much friendlier 6ft from the south, period still a solid 10 seconds. The wind swings light SW at 6 mph, cross-off, making for clean, lined-up waves. Combined energy is still a healthy 557, so there’s plenty of push. This is your window – good, solid surf for the intermediate crew.

The middle of the week, from Tuesday the 8th through to the 12th, is a bit of a write-off. We’ve got a messy mix of onshore winds and dropping swell, with energy levels falling right off into the double digits. Not worth paddling out for.

But hold on. The next big standout is on Sunday, Sept 13th. That morning, we see a new south-southeast swell pushing 8ft with a 10-second period, and the energy rockets back up to 1090. The wind is cross-off from the SSW at 9 mph, so it’ll be clean. Again, this is expert territory due to the size – 8ft is a solid step up.

Then, the absolute pick of the 16-day window lands on Thursday, Sept 17th morning. This is a classic. Swell is 6ft from the south, period stretching out to 12 seconds – that’s long-period groundswell, proper energy. The winds go glassy, dead calm, just a slight air. Combined energy is 1017, so it’s got everything you want: size, power, and absolutely perfect conditions. The break is Barrinha, and it’s fairly exposed, so it’ll catch this swell beautifully. Keep in mind, for a 6ft day, it’s a bit much for beginners, but for the intermediates and up, this is the one to circle. Crowds can be a factor here sometimes, so get in early.

The very end of the run, Monday Sept 21st morning, offers another fun option. Swell is 6ft from the east with a 9-second period, and we get a clean offshore wind from the SW at 9 mph. Good energy at 651, and that offshore wind will groom it perfectly. A solid runner-up to the 17th.

So, to sum it up, the best on offer is definitely Thursday Sept 17th morning – glassy, clean, proper groundswell. The Monday morning the 7th is your best bet for slightly smaller, more manageable waves. The big days on the 6th and 13th are for the experts only.

Rusty.

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