Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk about what’s ahead for the next couple of weeks. Right now, it’s a bit of a rough start. We’re looking at a stretch of days with poor conditions and nothing rideable to speak of from Saturday the 22nd of August right through to the end of that week. Honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer – the wind is messy, and the swell is just not cooperating at all. That first few days, you’re better off leaving the boards in the car.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday the 25th of August in the morning. It’s not a classic, but you might get a few waves. The swell is a weak 5ft from the W, with a short period of 7 seconds, and the combined energy is only 213 (weak). The wind is light and onshore, making it pretty marginal. The afternoon is even smaller, so don’t get your hopes up.

We’re in a bit of a dry spell until the 28th of August rolls around. That Friday morning, things start to look a lot more interesting. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the NNW, and the swell is 7ft from the NW with a 10-second period. The combined energy is 851 (moderate). That’s a solid, powerful groundswell heading in. The break is Carcavelos, and it’s exposed to the W, which is a decent match. But here’s the thing – that 7ft is getting big for this spot. It’s pushing into the “too big for beginners” zone, and the data says it’s actually too big for this break. The afternoon gets even bigger at 8ft, with a 11-second period and 1340 combined energy (strong). That’s expert-only territory. So, if you’re a confident surfer, Friday the 28th could be a standout, but it’s a beast.

Saturday the 29th of August is still worth a look, especially the morning. The swell drops slightly to 6ft from the NW, 10 seconds, and the combined energy is 711 (moderate). The wind is still cross-off from the N, so it’s clean. The water temp is about 70°F, which is pretty normal for this time of year, so no need for a thick suit. Carcavelos can get crowded, and with this quality, expect it to be busy.

Sunday the 30th of August brings a smaller, more manageable 4ft from the NNW with an 8-second period. The combined energy is 253 (weak). The wind is light and cross-off, so it’ll be glassy. This is a good one for a beginner or someone looking for a fun, less intense session. The morning is the pick.

Monday the 31st of August is similar – 3ft from the NNW, 8 seconds, and light cross-off wind. Clean, but small. Again, a nice morning session for the intermediates.

After that, from the 1st of September onwards, the swell holds around the 4ft to 5ft mark, but it’s all NNW or NW with short periods (6-8 seconds). The wind is clean, cross-offshore, but the wave quality is described as poor. The energy is weak to moderate, but it’s just not coming together for a good wave. There’s a weird spike on the 5th of September with a 1ft, 13-second period swell, but the combined energy is just 47 (weak) – that’s a tiny, long-period groundswell, which is tricky at a beach break. Not worth the paddle.

Overall, the standout is Friday the 28th of August for the experienced crew, with Saturday the 29th a close second. For the rest of us, Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st are the best bet for a clean, small wave. The second week is mostly a washout with poor conditions.

Keep your eyes on the forecasts, but for now, that’s the story.

Rusty

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