Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s coming up for the next couple of weeks. Honestly, it’s a pretty quiet start around here. The first real chance of any action doesn’t show up until the tail end of the first week, but there’s a bit of a tease on the horizon.

The first few days are a write-off. We’ve got small, weak swells in the 1ft to 4ft range, mostly from the NW and NNW, with periods under 8 seconds. The wind is a messy cross or cross-off, and the combined energy is feeble, struggling to get past 92 (22-92). The wave comment for every session is “poor surf conditions.” It’s flat, or close to it, from Sunday the 19th right through to Friday the 24th. Don’t bother waxing up.

We get a tiny glimmer on Wednesday the 22nd and Thursday the 23rd mornings. The swell is still tiny, 2ft from the NNW, but the wind goes light and clean, making it surfable but very ordinary. It’s a beginner-level session, if you’re desperate.

Carcavelos is the only spot on the menu, and it’s a classic beach break. The water temp is sitting at 70°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. Not a big deal.

Now, the real story starts to build toward the end of the second week. There’s a pulse of energy coming. On Sunday the 26th, the swell picks up to 6ft-7ft from the NNW, with the combined energy jumping to 355-545. The wind is a clean cross-off, but the wave comment says “marginal surf forecast.” It’s getting bigger, but it’s not quite there yet.

The standout of the entire forecast is Monday the 27th. The morning brings a solid 8ft swell from the NNW, with a period of 9 seconds and combined energy of 959. That’s a powerful, moderate surge of energy. The wind is a clean cross-off. However, the file flags this as “too big for this break.” For a beach break like Carcavelos, with that much size and a moderate period, it’s going to be a heavy, closed-out mess. This is strictly for experts only. If you’re a seasoned charger, this is your window. For everyone else, it’s a day to watch from the sand.

Tuesday the 28th morning is the next best option. The swell drops to 6ft from the NNW, period 9 seconds, combined energy 589. The wind is a gentle cross-off, and the comment says “expect very good surf conditions.” This is your best bet for a solid, clean, powerful session. It’s still big for beginners, but manageable for intermediate and above.

After that, the swell slowly fades through the rest of the week, with smaller, cleaner mornings on the 29th and 30th, but nothing that matches the punch of the 27th and 28th. The first week of August looks like it’s back to small, long-period groundswell (12 seconds) but with very little energy (48-93). It’s a tease.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a bust. The best on offer is the morning of Tuesday the 28th for a solid, clean session. The big, heavy standout is the morning of Monday the 27th, but only for the brave. The rest is slim pickings.

Rusty.

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