
Surf Forecasts:
Faja da Areia surf forecast from 9 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 15 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, NNE swell with 326 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 11 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 8s period with N swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Faja da Areia this week:
The surf forecast for Faja da Areia over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 10s. Another secondary swell of 0.3m and 4s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Faja da Areia in the next 16 days are 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Aug 15) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 9s period and expected on Tuesday (Aug 11) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 11th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 4AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Sat 15th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Faja da Areia over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a proper look at what’s coming up for Faja da Areia over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, it’s a slow start. The first few days are a bit of a write-off, with weak, messy swells and onshore winds making a mess of things. The water is sitting at 77°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year, but that’s about the only positive for the opening days. We’re looking at a long gap of poor to marginal conditions right through the first week.
The first real glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday 11th, in the morning. The wind drops to glassy, calm conditions, and we get a tiny 2-foot wave from the north. The period is short at 7 seconds, so it’s not going to have much punch, but it’ll be clean enough for a splash. The combined energy is weak (79). It’s surfable, but very ordinary.
Things stay pretty average right through the middle of the week. The swell picks up a bit, but it’s almost always cross-on or onshore, with those short periods. The real standout for the whole outlook is the run from Tuesday 18th afternoon through to Wednesday 19th morning. Tuesday afternoon goes glassy, with a 6-foot swell from the north-northeast, and the combined energy really jumps up to 480 – that’s a solid moderate energy. The swell period is 9 seconds, which is a nice little groundswell. Then Wednesday morning is glassy again, with a 5-foot swell from the north, period of 8 seconds and energy of 320. This is the best window we’ve got. The wind is glassy, the swell is a decent size, and it’s pushing from the north, which is close to the optimum north-northwest direction for this point. The break itself is inconsistent and rarely breaks, so when it does come to life, it’s a special thing. If you’re a beginner, the 5-foot to 6-foot might be a bit much, but for anyone with a bit of time in the water, this is the call.
After that, the last week of the outlook fades back into smaller, wind-affected waves. It’s not a total blank, but nothing that’ll get the heart racing. The forecast is less certain out that far, but it looks like ordinary conditions.
Signing off, Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Wed morning, min 21°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | Friday 14 | Saturday 15 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
69 | 45 | 129 | 136 | 104 | 58 | 40 | 73 | 133 | 161 | 158 | 33 | 90 | 101 | 141 | 106 | 109 | 108 | 73 | 326 | 222 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | on | on | on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:56AM1.84m | 00:33AM1.80m | 12:57PM2.02m | 1:30AM1.95m | 1:48PM2.20m | 2:18AM2.06m | 2:34PM2.34m | 3:02AM2.13m | 3:17PM2.41m | 3:43AM2.15m | 3:57PM2.40m | 4:22AM2.12m | 4:37PM2.32m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:20PM0.39m | 6:40AM0.38m | 7:19PM0.21m | 7:33AM0.24m | 8:09PM0.06m | 8:19AM0.12m | 8:54PM-0.04m | 9:01AM0.05m | 9:35PM-0.08m | 9:41AM0.03m | 10:14PM-0.04m | 10:20AM0.07m | 10:51PM0.05m | ||||||||
7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | — | 8:54 | — | — | 8:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 21 |
Feels °C | 27 | 27 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 22 | 27 | 27 | 23 | 29 | 29 | 22 | 29 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 21 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 |
25 | 45 | 129 | 136 | 104 | 58 | 40 | 73 | 133 | 161 | 158 | 116 | 90 | 62 | 141 | 96 | 67 | 58 | 56 | 70 | 119 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | N 9 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | ENE 4 | WNW 10 | N 7 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | ENE 5 | NNW 10 | NW 13 | NW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | NW 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 7 |
8 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 56 | 26 | 50 | 41 | 10 | 33 | 42 | 101 | 27 | 46 | 45 | 38 | 46 | 23 | 11 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 7 | S 12 | NW 11 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 14 | NNW 13 | N 7 | ENE 5 | NNW 11 | N 6 | NNW 10 | N 10 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | N 9 | WNW 8 | S 18 | NNW 7 |
2 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 20 | 39 | 58 | 8 | 5 | 39 | 1 | 18 | 16 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 6 | 26 | 6 | 5 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 5 | ENE 4 | — | — | NE 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ENE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NE 6 | NNE 7 | NE 7 |
69 | 29 | 8 | — | — | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 13 | 25 | 45 | 77 | 106 | 109 | 108 | 73 | 326 | 222 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Madeira | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Faja da Areia Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Faja da Areia provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Faja da Areia can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Faja da Areia surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Faja da Areia) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Faja da Areia may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Faja da Areia is 21 km (13 miles) from the city of Camara de Lobos. If you plan a holiday in Madeira, look for hotels and other accommodation in Camara de Lobos. Camara de Lobos has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











