Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the cards for the coast over the next couple of weeks. I’m gonna be straight with you—we’re in for a lean spell for a while. The first couple of days are a write-off with poor conditions, and it takes a bit of time before we see anything worth getting wet for.

We’ve got a long gap, really from now until the morning of Saturday, August 1st, before we see the first surfable waves. Even then, it’s nothing to write home about. The water temp is sitting at around 68°, which is bang on average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first chance to paddle out will be Saturday morning at Carcavelos. It’s a beginner-friendly break, fairly consistent, but the swell is small at 2ft from the west. The wind is a gentle, clean cross-offshore from the north, which is a big plus—means the faces will be clean. The combined energy is moderate (101), but it’s only a 1/10 sort of session, just surfable but ordinary. Not a standout by any stretch.

Honestly, the whole 16-day window is pretty average. There’s nothing exciting. If we look at the rest of the run, Sunday morning August 2nd is similar, with 3ft from the NNW and clean cross-off wind. The energy is a bit higher (129), but the period is short at 6 seconds, so the waves will be a bit weak and crumbly. Not for the crowd, which can be often here.

The best bet in the whole outlook, and I mean the one that might actually get your heart rate up, is the morning of Saturday, August 8th. There’s a bump of swell coming in at 5ft from the WNW, with a 10-second period. The combined energy is strong at 516, so there’s some real push behind it. The catch? The wind is a light cross-onshore from the west. It’s not ideal, but it’s light enough that the waves might still have some clean lines, especially early. This is definitely one for the more experienced crew, as it’s pushing into the size where beginners would struggle. The break itself is exposed and handles west swell well, but don’t expect perfection with that wind.

The week after that, from the 9th onwards, we get more clean cross-off winds, but the swell drops back and the wind ramps up. By the 10th and 11th of August, the swell picks up to 6-7ft, but it’s short-period stuff from the NNW, and the wind is strong—18 to 25 mph from the NNW, which is cross-off but will be howling. That’s more of a kite-surfing setup than a good paddle session. It’s clean but wild.

So, to wrap it up: the whole 16 days is a bit of a dud. There’s nothing that really screams “drop everything and go.” The one morning on Saturday, August 8th, has the most size and energy, but the wind keeps it from being a true standout. It’s one of those times when the forecasts might change, so keep an eye on it, but for now, it’s a quiet run for Carcavelos.

Rusty.

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