Barrinha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, Rusty here, and we’re looking at a pretty patchy run of surf for Barrinha. The first couple of days of this 16-day window are a write-off, so don't even bother checking the cam until Friday morning. The wait is worth it though, because we've got a couple of real gems in here before the ocean turns ugly again.

The forecast period kicks off with a big fat zero. Thursday, the 13th of August, is a complete dud. We’re looking at poor surf conditions all day. The bit of swell we have is messy with a cross-onshore wind, and the combined swell energy is weak at 278. Just forget it.

But then, Friday morning, the 14th of August, things turn around. The wind goes offshore from the south, cleaning things right up, and we’ve got a 3ft SSE groundswell (14-second period). The combined energy is a decent moderate (324). It’s a gentle offshore breeze and clean. This is a proper window to get in the water.

Now, Saturday the 15th of August is the clear standout. Morning is the go. The wind is glassy-light from the SSW, dead offshore, so it will be absolutely clean. The swell bumps up to a fun 4ft from the SSE, with that same long 14-second period. The combined energy is strong at 627. This is the best on offer – a classic, clean, long-period groundswell. This is the morning to have your board waxed and ready. While the crowds at Barrinha can be a problem at times, a morning this clean with solid energy will have everyone in a good mood.

The rest of the run is grim. From Saturday afternoon through until Monday the 24th of August, it’s a mess of cross-onshore winds and short-period windswell with combined energies (688 on Sunday) that look big but are just short-period junk. The wave quality is consistently rated poor. The swell on Sunday morning hits 6ft, but with a 7-second period and cross-on wind, it’s pure chop. You'd be better off with a kiteboard than a surfboard.

Things settle down on Monday morning, the 24th of August. The wind swings cross-offshore and goes light, giving us clean conditions again, and a 4ft S swell (10-second period) shows up with a moderate combined energy of 356. It’s a “good surf conditions” call. It’s not as punchy as the Saturday morning session, but it’s a solid, clean option to wrap up the run. After that, the size drops right off and the wind turns onshore again, fading out to barely a ripple by the end of the 16-day window.

So, bottom line: the surf to target is first thing Saturday the 15th of August. Friday the 14th morning is a good warm-up. Monday the 24th morning is a solid backup. Everything else is a write-off.

Rusty.

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