Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, gather 'round, grab a coffee. Rusty here.

First thing's first – the next week and a half is a bit of a write-off for any decent surf. We're looking at small, weak swells, and the wind is just not playing ball. The energy is low, and most of the time it's a cross-shore mess. There's a few days with nothing at all worth paddling out for, so save your energy.

Now, let's get into the details. For Carcavelos, it's a flat spell from Friday the 7th right through to the end of the week. The few waves that do show up on the 7th are a meagre 3ft from the NNW with a combined energy of just 207 (moderate), but the wind is a cross-offshore, and the call is "marginal." It's not worth the hassle.

The whole of the following week, from the 8th to the 13th, is a real struggle. We're seeing tiny waves, often under 3ft, with weak energy readings in the double digits (77, 59, 94, 69). The wind is cross or cross-off, and the water is about average for the time of year at 69°. It's just a flat, windy grind.

The real action doesn't start waking up until the middle of the second week. The first real standout comes on the morning of Saturday the 15th. The swell is starting to build, with a 4ft push from the NNW, a period of 8 seconds, and a combined energy of 397 (moderate). The wind is a light cross-offshore at only 10 km/h, so it should be clean. Conditions are looking "good" then. It's not huge, but it's the best we've seen in a while.

But the absolute best of the window is Sunday the 16th. The morning session is where it's at. We've got a solid 6ft swell from the NNW, with a combined energy of 508 (strong). The wind is glassy, absolute zero, making for a clean, smooth surface. It's a "very good" call. That's the session to circle in your calendar. Keep in mind, with the swell over 5ft, it's going to be a bit much for the beginners, but for everyone else, it's on.

The run continues into Monday the 17th. Another glassy morning, with a 7ft swell from the NNW, and a combined energy of 525 (strong). Again, "very good" conditions. However, by the afternoon, the wind shifts and messes it up. So, hit it early.

The following week tails off again. By the Friday the 21st, there's a final glimmer of hope. A glassy morning with a 5ft NW swell, period of 9 seconds, and a combined energy of 444 (strong). It's a "good" call, but the wind is light and variable, so it could be clean. After that, it's back to onshore rubbish.

So, to sum it up: don't bother with the first week. The absolute standout is the morning of Sunday the 16th, with Monday the 17th morning a close second. The weekend of the 15th-16th is your best bet for a proper surf.

Rusty.

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