Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s cookin’ for Carcavelos over the next couple of weeks.

Right now, we’re in a rough patch. The water is sitting at 67°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – you’ll feel that difference for sure. The first few days are pretty much a write-off. Monday the 24th has a 8ft W swell but with a brutal cross-onshore wind, it’s just a choppy mess. That carries on through to the end of the week with onshore cross-shore winds and lumpy conditions making it tough to find anything rideable.

The Good Stuff

The first real glimmer comes on Friday morning, August 28th. We’ve got a clean 8ft groundswell from the WNW with a long 11-second period. The wind is a clean cross-off from the North, which is a major positive. However, this swell is a big one – over 8ft puts it squarely in the expert-only zone. The wave energy is strong at 1520, so there’s plenty of power. If you’re highly skilled, this is your window, but beginners need to stay on the sand.

If that’s too heavy, Saturday the 29th drops to a more manageable 5ft from the NW, still clean. It’s not the standout, but it’s a step down in size.

The Long-Range Promise

Now, if you’ve got patience, the real prize is waiting. On Sunday, September 6th, the morning looks sweet: a 4ft NW groundswell with a very long 12-second period. The wind is a light offshore breeze – glassy conditions likely. That’s a treat. The energy reading is 628, which is solid but not overwhelming. It’s a smaller swell, so perfect for everyone.

But the spike? Early the next week, Monday September 7th morning shows a weird 5ft W swell with a massive 22-second period. That’s a very long period. It’s generating huge energy (2409). At a beach break like Carcavelos, that kind of period can make waves break really straight and close out, so it’s a bit tricky. Then by Monday afternoon, the swell jumps to 7ft from the W at 19 seconds, with a whopping 3966 in energy. Again, it’s clean, but over 8ft it’s expert territory and the wave shape might be weird.

The Verdict

Overall, the first week is a write-off for fun surfing. Friday the 28th is the best early call for experts. For the rest of us, Sunday morning September 6th looks like the true standout: clean, manageable size, and glassy winds. It’s a way off, so keep an eye on it – forecasts can shift – but that’s the one to circle on your calendar.

Rusty.

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