Copacabana Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, grab a coffee, I’ve had a good look at what’s coming for Rio. It’s going to be a weird one, so let’s get into it.

The first real bit of action is on Friday the 21st of August, but it’s a bit of a messy start. The swell is up at 6ft from the NW, and the period is a solid 10 seconds, so there’s a bit of grunt in the water. The combined energy is moderate (647). But the wind is a problem – it’s blowing onshore from the WNW at 9 mph, and the report says it’s a marginal call. The water is a touch warmer than normal at 73°F, which is nice, but the conditions aren’t doing it any favours.

Luckily, things clean up fast. The standout of the whole period is Saturday morning, the 22nd of August. The swell drops to a clean 4ft from the NW, still a decent 9-second period, and the energy is moderate (212). The wind is a cross-offshore breeze from the east at 9 mph, and the report says "expect good surf conditions." That’s your window. Copacabana is a consistent, exposed beach break, and with that direction and wind, it’ll be offering up some fun, clean lines. The crowds are listed as "sometimes," so be ready to share.

After that, it fizzles out. Saturday afternoon on the 22nd gets choppy with a 19 mph cross-offshore wind, and Sunday the 23rd is pretty ordinary. Then we hit a long, flat spell. From Monday the 24th right through to Thursday the 27th, the swell is tiny, the energy is weak (as low as 10), and the conditions are rubbish. That’s a rough four-day gap.

The next real pulse comes Friday morning, the 28th of August. The swell is back up to 6ft from the NW, with a 9-second period and strong energy (516). The wind is glassy, calm at 0 mph. The report says "expect very good surf conditions." This is another genuine highlight. For a more experienced surfer, that 6ft NW swell with glassy conditions at Copacabana is hard to beat.

The rest of the run into September is a mixed bag. Saturday the 29th is marginal, but Sunday the 30th and Monday the 31st both have glassy mornings with a consistent 4ft to 4ft NW swell (energy around 276-289), all rated as "good" conditions. That’s steady, reliable fun.

Looking further ahead, there’s a promising one in the second week. Thursday morning, the 3rd of September shows a 6ft NW swell with a calm, glassy wind and moderate energy (426). It’s rated as "good" – that’s a solid, expert-level wave for the experienced crew. The next day, Friday the 4th, also has a glassy morning with a 5ft NW swell (380), and the Saturday morning the 5th is glassy with a 4ft NW swell (254) and a longer 10-second period.

So, to wrap it up: the clear best on offer is the Saturday morning, 22nd of August for the clean, user-friendly waves, and the Friday morning, 28th of August for the bigger, glassy, powerful swell. The long-range stuff on the 3rd and 4th of September looks promising, but it’s a bit further out, so keep an eye on the forecasts.

Rusty.

Read more