Copacabana Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. We’ve got a bit of a slow cooker of a forecast for Copacabana over the next couple of weeks, but there are a couple of mornings that are gonna make it all worth it. The early action is the real standout, so don’t sleep on it.

The window kicks off this Sunday, the 6th of September, with a solid morning session. We’re looking at a clean 5 ft NW groundswell with a long 11-second period pushing in. The water’s sitting at 70°, pretty normal for this time of year. The wind is glassy out of the WSW at just 3 mph, so the surface will be like a mirror. The combined energy is solid at 578 (moderate energy), and the waves should be well-shaped, though with that longer period, expect a bit more time between sets. This is the pick of the whole forecast – get out there early.

Sunday afternoon fades fast. The wind swings to a cross-onshore W at 9 mph, the swell drops to 4 ft, and it gets choppy. Not worth paddling out.

Monday the 7th has another glassy morning, with clean 2 ft WNW swell at a very long 14-second period. The energy is still decent at 241, but it’s small. Good for a longboard or a fish, but you’ll be hunting for the good ones. The afternoon gets light cross-onshore winds, making it marginal.

Tuesday the 8th is a write-off. Small swell, cross-onshore wind, and the energy drops to 150. Not much to get excited about.

Wednesday the 9th brings a pulse of 6 ft NNW swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds and the wind is onshore. The energy jumps to 435 in the morning and 887 in the afternoon, but with the onshore wind, it’ll be a mess. This setup is more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing – strong wind and a choppy beach break.

Thursday the 10th morning is a nice surprise. Glassy conditions with a 5 ft NW swell at 10 seconds. The energy is 458, and the clean surface means you’ll get some decent ones. It’s not as good as Sunday, but it’s a solid session.

Friday the 11th through Saturday the 12th are quiet. Small swell, clean but tiny. The energy drops to 129 and then 31. Not worth a paddle.

Now for the next real standout – Sunday the 13th of September morning. We get another good NW groundswell, 4 ft with a long 13-second period. The wind is light cross-off from the ENE at 6 mph, keeping things clean. The energy is back up to 544. This is your second-best window. The afternoon gets stronger cross-off winds at 12 mph, which will bump it up, so stick to the morning.

Monday the 14th and Tuesday the 15th are marginal. The swell hangs around 4 ft, but the winds are cross or cross-on, making for average conditions. The energy sits around 400-500, so there’s push, but it’s not clean.

From Wednesday the 16th through to Friday the 18th of September, it gets ugly. Strong onshore winds from the WNW and NW, gusting up to 22 mph, with rain. The swell builds to 5 ft, but it’s a messy, lumpy ocean. Not for paddling – kites and windsurfers might have a ball.

Saturday the 19th and Sunday the 20th of September mornings offer a reprieve. Clean cross-off winds and 4 ft NW swell at 10-11 seconds. The energy is around 370, so it’s a fun, surfable size. Not a standout, but a decent way to spend a morning.

Finally, Monday the 21st of September morning brings glassy conditions again, with a 4 ft NW swell at 11 seconds and energy of 371. It’s a nice, clean finish to the forecast period.

To sum it up: the absolute best on offer is Sunday the 6th of September morning – that’s the one to call in sick for. The second best is Sunday the 13th of September morning. Everything else is small, wind-affected, or just average. Get on those two windows and you’ll score.

Rusty.

Read more