Figueira da Foz - Buarcos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright mate, Rusty here. Let's talk about the stretch ahead at Buarcos, that point break in Figueira da Foz. I gotta be straight with you—this spot is known for being inconsistent, and this forecast is a proper test of patience. The first couple of weeks are looking pretty dire, with almost nothing rideable. The water is sitting at 65°, which is a bit colder than usual for this time of year, so don't expect warm bathwater.

We start off on Thursday 16th July with glassy conditions in the morning but only 1ft of weak WNW swell at 9 seconds—barely a ripple. The wind turns cross-on in the afternoon, and it stays tiny and messy through the weekend. Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th bring a bit more energy (86 combined energy on Sunday morning) but it's short-period windswell from the NNW, not the direction this break likes. The wave comment says "poor surf conditions" every single day, and that's the truth.

Monday 20th actually sees combined energy creep into triple digits (101 in the morning, 107 in the afternoon) with 3ft from the NW, but the wind is cross-onshore and it's still a messy combo. The whole week after that is more of the same—tiny, weak, and directionally off. The optimum swell for Buarcos is from the WSW, and we're getting nothing close to that.

The only glimmer comes right at the end of the month. On Tuesday 28th July morning, we finally get a "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions" rating—4ft from the NNW at 7 seconds, with clean cross-off wind. The combined energy hits 187, which is moderate, but the period is short and the swell direction is still not ideal. It's barely a step up.

Then on Friday 31st July, we see the biggest swell of the window: 6ft from the NW at 9 seconds in the afternoon, with a fresh cross-off breeze and combined energy of 538. That's the most energy we've seen, but the wave comment still says "marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions." The morning is 4ft at 10 seconds, also marginal. For a break that's already inconsistent and rarely fires, this is about as good as it gets—but it's still not a standout. The swell is too straight for the point, and the direction is off. If you're an advanced surfer and desperate, you might get a couple of OK waves, but don't expect anything special.

In short, there's no real standout in this 16-day window. The best bet is the last few days of July, but even then it's a long shot for a spot that doesn't often deliver. Keep an eye on the charts—things can change, but right now it's a waiting game.

Rusty

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