Carcavelos Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s shaking for the local lineup.

Honestly, the next couple of weeks look pretty grim for Carcavelos. There’s a bit of swell on the cards, but the wind is just never playing ball properly and the conditions are getting blown out or messed up by tide. The first decent surfable waves don't really appear until August 15th, but even then, there's a major caveat.

Let’s start with the real kicker. August 15th, Saturday, sees a big pulse of NNW swell. We’re looking at 8.2ft on the morning and 7.9ft in the afternoon, with moderate combined wave energy (829-841). The wind is cross-off from the NNW, and the files say “wind and tide favorable.” But here’s the thing – that size is simply too big for this break. It’s a beginner spot, and at that height, it’s only gonna be for the hardcore crew. The swell has a period of 8 seconds, so it’s a short-period wind swell, which means it’ll be a bit dumpy and messy. The water temp is sitting at 70.3°F, which is about normal for this time of year, nothing to write home about.

August 16th, Sunday morning, is similar. 7.2ft from the NNW (787 energy) with a 9-second period. Still too big for the average punter, and the wind is a light cross-off, so it would be clean, but it’s just a wall of water for the beginners. The afternoon turns to cross-shore from the NW, which is a total chop-fest.

After that, it’s a long run of poor surf. August 17th to the 20th is all poor conditions, with strong winds and messy waves. August 21st, Friday morning, offers a tiny reprieve – 3.0ft WNW swell with a 10-second period, giving a weak 172 energy. The wind is a light cross-off, so it’s clean, but it’s “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions.” That’s the best we get for a while, and it’s not much.

August 23rd, Sunday morning, and August 25th, Tuesday morning, get a “marginal” nod, but the winds are up and the swell is small and short-period. August 25th afternoon sees a bump to 4.9ft (504 energy) but with a strong breeze, so it’s just a blown-out mess.

So, the only standout here is that weekend of August 15th and 16th, but it’s a big-wave session for experts only. For everyone else, this is a painful stretch. If you’re a beginner, you’re looking at a long wait. The setup is a beach, and with the strong winds and significant swell, honestly, this looks more interesting for the kite surfers than paddle surfers for most of the period. The crowds at Carcavelos are often there, so if it’s not blown out, expect company.

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