Barrinha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, looking at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks. The main act is Barrinha, and honestly, it’s a bit of a slow burn for most of the forecast.

We’re starting off with a real dud from Monday the 31st of August right through to the end of the first week. The combined swell energy is weak at best, mostly sitting well under 100, with a lot of onshore and cross-onshore winds making a mess of things. The water temp is 73°, which is about average for this time of year, so that’s one thing we don’t have to complain about. But the surf is just not there for a proper paddle session for days. We’re looking at a long, quiet stretch with nothing worth getting wet for.

Now, we do get a tiny window early on Wednesday the 2nd of September morning. The wind goes light offshore from the south at 9 mph, and that’s clean, but the swell is weak – only 4 ft from the east with a short 8-second period and energy just hitting 205. It’s surfable, but it’s more of a knee-paddler than a highlight. Thursday morning the 3rd is similar with a light offshore, but the swell drops to 3 ft. A couple of other mornings later in the first week have light offshore breezes, but the swell heights are miniscule, barely over 2 ft, and the combined energy is under 100. It’s a flat spell.

Then, things get interesting. Wednesday the 9th of September morning is the real standout. We’ve got a solid 8 ft east-southeast swell rolling in, with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is massive at 1697 – that’s strong to very strong energy, so there’s plenty of push. The wind is light from the east-southeast at 9 mph, sitting cross-offshore, which should keep the waves fairly clean. This is serious groundswell for experienced surfers only; at 8 ft, it’s getting into big territory, not for the faint-hearted or beginners. Thursday the 10th still has a solid 8 ft from the east, but the wind swings onshore from the east-northeast, making it choppy and lumpy. That one’s a pass.

Further out, there’s a glimmer. Monday the 14th of September afternoon looks decent: 4 ft east-southeast swell, moderate offshore wind from the south at 16 mph, and combined energy at 281. It’s moderate, and it’s surfable, but nothing to write home about. The real promising but less certain moment comes on Tuesday the 15th of September morning. The wind goes glassy – zero from the east-southeast – and we’ve got a 5 ft east-southeast swell with a solid 12-second period. That’s a nice, long-period groundswell, and combined energy hits 595, which is a proper moderate push. The glassy conditions will make it clean as a whistle. It’s a bit far out, so keep an eye on it, but if it holds, that’s your session.

So, for the standouts: Wednesday the 9th of September morning is the big one if you’re an experienced surfer and want some power. For a more relaxed, cleaner session, the Tuesday the 15th of September morning glassy window is the one to aim for. Barrinha itself is fairly exposed to swell from the south, and these east and east-southeast swells aren’t a perfect match, but the energy is there.

Signing off, Rusty.

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