Canto do Leblon Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right off the bat, we’re looking at a pretty average stretch for Canto do Leblon (Rio de Janeiro). Water temp is sitting at 75°, which is 4° warmer than usual for this time of year, so you might not even need the full wetsuit. The first few days are a bit of a grind. The swell is there, mostly south at 6ft to 6ft with moderate energy (844 to 1693), but the wind is all over the place, mostly onshore or cross-shore with rain around. It’s going to be a mess. There’s really nothing worth paddling out for until Thursday the 13th.

Thursday morning dawns clear with a glassy 5ft south swell at 13 seconds (830 energy). That’s the first real window. The wind is basically nothing, so it should be clean. The wave energy is moderate, but it’s the best we’ve got. Friday morning the 14th is similar, a touch smaller at 5ft southeast, but the cross-offshore northeasterly wind will keep it looking tidy (925 energy). These are the best of the first week, but they aren't standouts, just okay.

The weekend dips off. Saturday the 15th is messy, and Sunday the 16th drops to 3ft. There’s a real lull from Sunday afternoon through to about Wednesday the 19th. The swell drops out, the wind turns onshore again, and it’s flat-ish junk. Monday the 17th has a small, clean 3ft south-southeast swell, but it’s weak (209 energy) and pretty ordinary. Wednesday the 19th shows a glassy 3ft but the period tanks to 7 seconds, so it’s going to be soft and crumbly.

We get a little pulse Thursday the 20th, then it fades again. But hold on, because the real story is shaping up for Tuesday the 25th, which is more than a week out. That morning, we’re looking at a solid 5ft south swell with a very long 17-second period (1404 energy). The wind is light, offshore from the north-northeast, promising clean conditions. This is a proper groundswell, and for a beach and point setup, this is the standout of the whole forecast. It’s potentially excellent for experienced surfers. The afternoon bumps up to 7ft, but the wind swings onshore and it gets messier.

So, the upshot is this: Thursday the 13th and Friday the 14th are your early-week calls, just to get wet. But the one to circle on the calendar is Tuesday the 25th. That morning, with that long-period energy and offshore wind, Canto do Leblon could be firing. It’s a long-range call, so don’t bet the farm on it, but it’s the most promising day on the board.

Rusty

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