Figueira da Foz - Buarcos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Figueira da Foz.

Well, I’m gonna be straight with you – this isn’t a week to be ripping the cord out of your board. The story for the next 16 days is one of persistent small, weak swell and a lot of wind working against us. There are no real standout swells, but there are a few windows where the conditions line up just enough to get a look, especially if you're an advanced surfer who knows the Buarcos point.

The water temp is sitting about average for the time of year, so no need to overthink the wetsuit.

Let’s start with the first bit of action. On Thursday the 9th, we’ve got a tiny 2 ft swell from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds. The combined energy is weak, only 83. The morning is the pick with a light cross-off wind from the NNW, keeping things clean. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. Crowds are possible here, but the swell is so small it'll likely keep the crowds down. Thursday afternoon gets messy with a cross-shore wind picking up, so don't bother.

Friday the 10th is a carbon copy: 2 ft, WNW, 9 seconds, weak energy at 82. The morning remains the only clean session with that cross-off breeze. The water is still flat and weak, but it’s the best of a bad lot.

Now, Saturday the 11th morning is worth a mention. The swell drops to 2 ft, but it’s coming from the NW with a period of 11 seconds, which is a bit more juicy. The combined energy is 108. The real story here is the wind: glassy conditions from the SW at just 3 mph. That’s a major positive. For a point break like Buarcos, that long-period swell angles in nicely, and with no wind, it’ll be glassy. It’s inconsistent, so be patient, but if you’re an advanced surfer, this is the best session of the first week. The tiny size means it’s not going to be a classic, but it’s the cleanest we’ll see.

The rest of the first week and into the second week is a real struggle. Sunday the 12th through Wednesday the 15th sees mostly onshore or cross-on winds and tiny swell. There are a few glassy mornings (like Tuesday the 14th morning and Wednesday the 15th morning), but the swell is only 1 ft to 2 ft with periods as low as 6 seconds. The energy is pathetic, down in the 30s and 40s. It’s basically a flat spell.

There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations. The surf quality is consistently rated as poor.

Moving into the third week, we start seeing a bit more power. Sunday the 19th brings a 3 ft WNW swell, but the wind is onshore, so it’s choppy. Monday the 20th and Tuesday the 21st are clean with cross-off winds, but the swell is still only 2 ft to 3 ft with short periods of 7 seconds. The energy stays weak (66 to 96). You’ll be bobbing around on small, unorganized lines.

The one standout in the second week comes on Wednesday the 22nd. The morning shows a 4 ft swell from the NW with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy finally hits 137. The wind is a clean cross-off from the N at 12 mph. The swell direction is coming from the NW, which is a bit off the optimum WSW for Buarcos, but it’s a more sizeable swell with moderate energy. It’s still not huge, but it’s the best size we’ve seen. The afternoon pushes up to 4 ft but with strong cross-off winds, so the morning is the pick. This is the best option in the whole 16-day window, but it’s still a long way off, so consider it promising but not locked in.

Thursday the 23rd drops back to 2 ft, and Friday the 24th sees a 3 ft NW swell with a period of 7 seconds and energy of 171. The wind is a steady cross-off at 16 mph. The energy is moderate, but the short period means the waves will be soft and a bit lumpy. It’s clean, but not classic.

So, the bottom line: the best of it is the glassy, long-period but tiny session on Saturday morning the 11th, and the slightly bigger, clean but short-period window on Wednesday the 22nd. Don’t expect any barrels, but if you’re desperate for a paddle, those are your windows. Beginners should steer clear of the 22nd if the swell hits 4 ft, as it’ll be too much for a learner on a point break.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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