Figueira da Foz - Buarcos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s on offer for Buarcos over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow start, but we’ve got one or two windows that might just turn it on.

We are looking at a dry spell to kick things off. The first few days, right through to Friday the 24th, are pretty much a write-off. We’re talking about tiny, weak swell with a combined energy barely cracking 65, mixed with nasty cross-onshore winds. It’s going to be bumpy and un-rideable, so save your energy.

Things start to look a little more hopeful by Saturday the 25th. The morning shows a cleaner picture with a cross-off wind and a 1 ft swell from the WNW, though the period is short at 7 seconds. The energy picks up a bit to 155, but it’s still a far cry from perfect. Sunday the 26th sees a jump in size to 6 ft from the NNW, with the same short period, but the wind stays clean. The energy is moderate at 379, but the conditions are just "ordinary".

Now, here is where I get a little excited. Monday the 27th morning is a real standout. We get offshore winds from the NNE, clean as a whistle, wrapping into Buarcos. Swell sits at a solid 5 ft from the NNW with a slightly better 8-second period. The energy reads 374. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. For a point break that can be inconsistent, this is a cracking window for advanced surfers. The swell direction from the NNW matches the optimum WSW direction well enough for this exposed point, and the offshore flow should groom it up nicely.

Tuesday the 28th morning is another one to circle. The wind is glassy, dead calm from the WNW. The swell is a similar 5 ft from the NNW, period at 8 seconds, and a strong energy reading of 328. This is the most likely day for the cleanest, most lined-up waves we’ll see all week.

Looking further out, the first week of August has some promise. On Saturday the 1st, we get a glassy morning again with a 3 ft groundswell from the WNW and a much longer period of 10 seconds. The combined energy is a very respectable 395. That longer period should mean better shaped waves with more push, which is always welcome at a point break. There’s another one on Tuesday the 4th with a morning cross-off wind and a 5 ft swell from the NW, energy hitting 464. However, these are longer-range calls, so don't lock them in just yet.

Late in the window, Thursday the 6th sees a bigger pulse of 7 ft from the NNW, but it’s paired with strong cross-off winds which might keep the surface okay for experts, though it’s pushing into the territory where beginners should sit it out.

Overall, the first few days are flat and bumpy, so don’t bother. The best bet is to focus on the Monday 27th and Tuesday 28th mornings for the cleanest, most powerful waves. The later dates in August look interesting, but the crystal ball gets a bit cloudy.

Stay frothy, catch you in the water.
Rusty

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