Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s on tap for Carcavelos over the next couple of weeks.

Right now, the water temp is sitting at 69°F, which is pretty much spot on average for this time of year, so nothing weird there.

We’ve got a bit of a slow start. The first few days are looking pretty ordinary with weak, short-period windswell and onshore or cross-shore breezes. The wave energy is weak, barely cracking 100 (126). Nothing to get excited about. It’s not until Friday morning, the 21st of August, that things start to get interesting. The swell picks up to 6 ft from the NNW, with a short period of 7 seconds, but the wind is clean and cross-offshore. The combined energy jumps to 554 (moderate). That afternoon, the same day, looks even better – swell hits 7 ft from the NNW, period stretches to 10 seconds, and the wind stays clean and cross-off. The energy is solid at 886 (moderate). This is a standout window for more experienced surfers, as 7 ft is getting up there for beginners. The longer period will give the waves more shape and push.

Saturday the 22nd still has decent size, around 5-6 ft, but the wind switches to a moderate cross-shore, making things a bit lumpy. The energy is still moderate (669-460). We then hit a few days of smaller, messier conditions through the middle of next week.

The next real highlight pops up on Friday morning, the 28th of August. The swell is 6 ft from the NW, with a period of 11 seconds – that’s a nice groundswell. The wind is clean and cross-off, and the combined energy is 679 (moderate). This is a really promising window for a solid session, especially if you like a bit of power and a longer wait between sets.

The long-range outlook is a bit of a mixed bag. Saturday the 29th has a clean morning with 4 ft from the NW, but it’s a bit weak. Then we see another pulse of energy around the 31st of August into the 1st of September, with swell hitting 6-7 ft from the NW, and periods of 9-10 seconds. The winds look clean for the mornings, but the afternoons get fresh. The energy is moderate to strong (533-824). This is promising but remember, it’s a week and a half out, so take it with a grain of salt.

Best bet: Friday the 21st of August afternoon for the biggest, cleanest swell, and Friday morning the 28th of August for a solid, well-shaped groundswell. Both are for the more experienced crew.

Rusty.

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