Surf Forecasts:
Faja da Areia surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 1PM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 12s period, NNW swell with 3,018 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 9s 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 25) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 9s period. 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 3.0m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 1PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 6s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 26) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 1PM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Faja da Areia over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, this is Rusty.
Let's talk about Faja da Areia. This is a point break setup on the north coast, and it’s an exposed spot that loves a solid NNW swell to get going. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, but it’s inconsistent, so you gotta be patient. The water temp is about right for this time of year, nothing out of the ordinary.
The first few days bring some real size, but the wind kills it. Saturday, August 23rd, kicks off with a solid 10ft swell from the NNW with a long 13-second period. The combined energy is big at 2953, so there’s plenty of power. But the wind is a stubborn WNW cross to cross-onshore, turning those big lines into a choppy, bumpy mess. Sunday the 24th drops to 8ft with a light offshore from the NNW in the morning, but it’s still not clean. Monday the 25th is where you need to pay attention. The swell drops to 5ft from the N, period drops to a clean 9 seconds, and the wind goes glassy. That is clean, fun-sized surf on a point with offshore flow. The combined energy is a moderate 310. That Tuesday morning, August 25th, is the standout of the first week.
Things go flat mid-week with weak energy readings below 100. That’s a gap of a few days with nothing worth getting wet for. Then Friday the 28th sees a new pulse of NNW swell, hitting 7ft by the afternoon with a long 11-second period. The combined energy jumps to 2075, so there’s proper power. But again, the wind swings cross-onshore from the NE. For a point break, that’s a heartbreaker. If you're a seasoned surfer who doesn't mind a bumpy ride, there's some meaty size.
Into the second week, the pattern shifts to smaller, weaker ENE and NE windswell. The periods are short, around 6 to 8 seconds, and the combined energy stays in the low hundreds. The wind is mostly cross-onshore. There’s a brief moment on Sunday, August 30th, with a glassy morning and 3ft from the NNW, but the period is only 9 seconds and the energy is weak at 252. Nothing really fires. Long stretches here where the combined energy barely cracks 200. It’s a poor run of small, weak surf.
The best bet across the whole 16 days is that Tuesday morning, August 25th. Glassy, 5ft of N swell with a reasonable period. It’s not big, but for a beginner-friendly point with clean faces, that’s your window. The later pulse of size on the 28th has the grunt but lacks the wind to make it a classic.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Wed afternoon. Warm (max 25°C on Wed morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | N 7 | NNW 10 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
2953 | 2873 | 1520 | 1167 | 799 | 495 | 306 | 247 | 132 | 95 | 63 | 48 | 59 | 88 | 146 | 480 | 1116 | 607 | 416 | 307 | 220 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | glassy | glassy | glassy | cross | cross | on | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:59AM1.59m | 00:31AM1.53m | 12:48PM1.73m | 1:12AM1.66m | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:46AM1.79m | 1:59PM2.02m | 2:18AM1.90m | 2:30PM2.14m | 2:49AM2.00m | 3:01PM2.21m | 3:20AM2.06m | 3:32PM2.25m | 3:52AM2.09m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:37AM0.77m | 6:24PM0.66m | 6:31AM0.64m | 7:07PM0.52m | 7:11AM0.50m | 7:41PM0.39m | 7:45AM0.37m | 8:13PM0.26m | 8:16AM0.26m | 8:44PM0.16m | 8:47AM0.17m | 9:14PM0.09m | 9:19AM0.13m | 9:44PM0.06m | |||||||
7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | 7:39 | — | — | |
— | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:40 | — | — | 8:39 | — | — | 8:37 | — | — | 8:37 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 25 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 21 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 24 | 25 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | N 10 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | N 9 | NNW 10 | N 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 |
2953 | 2873 | 1520 | 1167 | 799 | 495 | 306 | 247 | 132 | 95 | 41 | 48 | 59 | 88 | 39 | 480 | 1116 | 607 | 416 | 307 | 220 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 13 | S 13 | S 12 | W 8 | S 12 | S 12 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 6 | WNW 6 | S 10 | NNW 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 9 |
17 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | S 12 | W 7 | NW 10 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | S 11 | NNE 7 | NNE 7 | N 10 | N 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
— | — | — | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | — | N 7 | N 4 | N 7 | NE 4 | N 11 | ENE 6 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 | ENE 7 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 63 | — | 32 | 10 | 146 | 22 | 959 | 74 | 144 | 145 | 136 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 484 | 484 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 9 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 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.











