Figueira da Foz - Buarcos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a honest look at what’s coming up for Buarcos.

To be straight with you, the first week and a half of this forecast is a tough one. We’re looking at a long stretch of weak, messy, or just too-small surf. From Tuesday the 4th through to the morning of Thursday the 13th, there’s really nothing worth changing your plans for. The swell is tiny, the period is short, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-off, but the energy is just not there. You’ll see a few of those mornings with clean conditions, like Wednesday the 5th and Thursday the 6th, but the waves are barely pushing 2 ft to 4 ft and the combined energy is weak to moderate at best (142 to 253). It’s frustrating, but it happens.

Now, if you can hold out, there’s a real standout on the horizon. Friday morning, August 14th is the one to circle. The swell jumps to a solid 7 ft from the NNW, with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind is glassy – dead calm from the ESE. That’s a rare treat. The combined energy is strong at 605, and the forecast says "expect very good surf conditions." This is the best of the whole outlook. Buarcos is a point break, so it will handle that swell direction nicely. The water temperature is sitting at 69°, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing unusual there. Keep in mind, this spot can get crowded sometimes, so get there early.

That Friday morning session is your best bet. The afternoon gets choppy again, and the following days are a mix of onshore wind and big, messy swell over 7 ft that’s really only for the experienced crew.

Then, looking into the second week, Tuesday morning, August 18th offers another promising window. The swell is 5 ft from the NNW, with a period of 9 seconds, and it’s glassy again from the SSW. The combined energy is very strong at 523, and it’s another "expect very good surf conditions" call. Less certain that far out, but it’s got potential.

Wednesday morning, August 19th also looks good on paper – 6 ft from the NW, 10 second period, clean cross-off wind from the north, and energy at 605. But the wind will swing around in the afternoon, so morning is the call.

Overall, if you’re a beginner, that 7 ft on the 14th is going to be a handful. For the rest of us, that’s the session to chase. The rest of the time, it’s mostly small, poor, or onshore. The spot is pretty inconsistent, so a blank run like this isn’t totally abnormal for the area. But forecasts can change, so keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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