Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s coming for the surf.

First off, there’s a dry spell. The 25th of July and the 26th are a total bust. The 25th has 5ft of messy NW cross-swell with a 19 mph cross-wind making a lumpy mess. The 26th is cleaner but still marginal. Don’t bother.

The first real chance is on the morning of Sunday, July 27th. Carcavelos should be glassy, with a light NE offshore breeze at just 3 mph. The swell is a clean 4ft from the NNW, with a short period of 7 seconds, so it’ll be a bit weak and a little choppy in shape, but the calm air will make it feel mellow. Combined wave energy is moderate at 231 – enough for a fun little session for the beginners and longboarders. The water is 70°, about 2° warmer than average for this time of year, so it’s nice and comfortable.

The absolute standout, the one you don't want to miss, is Monday morning, July 28th. Again at Carcavelos, we’ve got glassy conditions early with a light NNW offshore breeze at 3 mph – that’s perfect, clean as a whistle. Swell bumps up to a proper 4ft, but the period stretches to 10 seconds, which means more energy and better shaped waves. The combined energy is moderate at 330, and the swell direction is NNW, which is straight on for the optimum here (W), so it’ll wrap in nicely. This is your best bet for clean, fun waves. It can get busy here, but the quality will be worth it.

Tuesday, July 29th morning is another glassy morning with 3ft from the NW (9 sec period) and a NNE offshore breeze, but it’s smaller and less punchy – still rideable but not a standout.

After that, the surf drops off a cliff. From July 30th through August 5th, we’re stuck with tiny, weak waves, mostly under 3ft, with moderate to fresh offshore winds keeping things clean but the swell just isn’t there. Energy drops below 100 on several days – that’s weak.

The next real hope comes on Saturday morning, August 8th. Carcavelos sees a jump in swell – 7ft from the NNW, short period of 8 seconds, with a light offshore breeze. The combined energy is a strong 557. This is a bigger, more powerful swell, so it’ll be too much for beginners, but intermediates will have a blast.

And then the big one – Sunday morning, August 9th. The swell is forecast to hit 8ft from the NNW, with a 9-second period. That’s heavy, and the combined energy is a chunky 990 (strong). But here’s the heads-up: the guidance says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. This is only for experts, and even then, it’s a caution. The winds are cross-offshore and clean, but that amount of water moving through a beach break like Carcavelos will be a beast. Later that afternoon, it pushes to 10ft with energy hitting 1213 (very strong), which is pure danger zone for anyone but the most seasoned charger. Keep a safe head.

So, for the best of the bunch: Monday, July 28th morning is your clean, fun, glassy session for everyone. If you’re after a bigger challenge, Saturday, August 8th morning is your go-to for strong, punchy waves.

Rusty out.

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