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 – Buarcos over the next couple of weeks.

We’ve got a pretty mixed bag coming up. The first week is a bit of a grind with small, choppy conditions and a lot of just average to poor surf. The real standout looks to be the morning of Saturday the 19th, and the Sunday the 20th is also a very solid option. Hold tight, because the early stuff is mostly for the patient.

The swell energy is moderate throughout, with combined energy values mostly in the 100 to 800 range. The water temp is sitting at 67°, which is about normal for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit just yet.

Buarcos (Figueira da Foz) is an exposed point break that needs a swell from the WSW to really light up, but we’re getting a lot of NW and NNW swell through the period. That’s a bit off its optimum, so the waves will be a little weaker and more walled up than usual. It’s inconsistent here, so don’t expect a set every minute.

Sunday 6th afternoon kicks things off with a 4 ft NW swell at 11 seconds, but it’s a cross-off wind and the forecast is marginal. Not one to get excited about.

Monday 7th sees a bump to 5 ft from the WNW with a 12 second period, offering a bit more push. The mornings are cleaner with a light breeze, but the wind picks up in the afternoon. Still, just a marginal call.

The rest of the week, from Tuesday 8th through Friday 11th is a bit of a write-off. Swell drops to 4 ft or less, period is short (7 to 10 seconds), and the wind is mostly cross or cross-off. The energy is weak, dropping to 137 on Friday afternoon. These are not the days to call in sick for.

Saturday 12th morning has a tiny 3 ft swell with light easterly winds, but it’s not going to do much at this point. The afternoon goes downhill.

Now, Sunday 13th morning is a real glimmer of hope. The swell jumps to 4 ft from the NW with a very long 13-second period, and the wind is offshore (NNE) at only 3 mph. The energy is 539, which is moderate, and the forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is a groundswell, so it’ll be a bit more lined up and powerful, but the long period can make it break a bit straight at times. Still, with offshore wind and that period, it’s the best looking session in the first week.

The following week, from Monday 14th to Tuesday 15th, is a mix of small to moderate NW swells (3 ft to 4 ft) but the wind is mostly cross-off and moderate. Nothing special.

Wednesday 16th morning is a hidden gem. We’ve got glassy conditions with a 3 ft WNW swell at 11 seconds, and a light southerly breeze. The energy is 340, and the report says “expect good surf conditions.” It’s small but clean, perfect for a log.

Thursday 17th and Friday 18th turn a bit messy with cross-on winds and choppy conditions, though Friday afternoon sees a size increase to 6 ft from the NNW. That’s a solid size, but the period is a short 9 seconds and the wind is cross-shore, so it’ll be a bit of a washing machine. Probably more fun for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

The big one is Saturday 19th morning. This is a standout. We’ve got a 6 ft NW swell, still a short 9-second period, but the wind is glassy – a light northerly at 3 mph. The forecast says “expect very good surf conditions.” For a point break, that clean face with a head-high swell will offer some great long walls. The energy is strong at 555.

Sunday 20th morning is also excellent. The swell drops slightly to 5 ft from the NW, but the period stretches to 10 seconds, and the wind is light and cross-off from the north. The forecast again says “very good surf conditions” with an energy of 551. This is a close second to Saturday.

Monday 21st looks like the end of the run, with a drop in size and a return to poor conditions.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a bit of a slog with a few ok windows. The real highlights are the morning of Saturday 19th September and the morning of Sunday 20th September. Both offer clean, chest to head-high waves with light winds. The 19th has the glassy edge, the 20th has a little more period. Get in the water.

Rusty.

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