Surf Forecasts:
Faja da Areia surf forecast from 20 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 23 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 15s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 13s period, NNW swell with 2,726 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 10s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.1m and 10s period with a secondary swell of 0.6m and 6s. 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 13s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 10AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.4m 8s period and expected on Friday (Aug 21) at 1AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 10s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 15s |
| Most Powerful | 10AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 10ft (3.0m) 13s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Faja da Areia over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here again. Let’s break down the same outlook for the imperial crowd.
It’s a slow start, so don’t rush. The first few days are flat and junky. The only real standout, the one you want to circle, is the morning of Saturday the 22nd.
Overall Pattern: Most of the next two weeks are small, weak, and chopped up. The one clear winner is the early session on Saturday the 22nd. The water is a touch warmer than usual for late August, sitting at 77°.
The Big Moment: Saturday, 22nd August – Morning at Faja da Areia. This is it. Glassy conditions with a light NW wind. The swell is 4ft from the N, with a 10-second period, giving it some proper shape. The combined energy is a solid moderate 275. With the surface like glass, those waves will be clean and fun. The wind goes cross-on later in the day, so make the most of the morning.
Sunday, 23rd: A much bigger, long-period groundswell from the NNW hits. Morning sees 10ft with a 13-second period and a massive 2726 energy reading. That’s a lot of water moving. But the wind is cross-on. For a point break, the long period will draw some nice lines, but the wind will chop it up. This one is for the experts only. The afternoon drops to 8ft, but the wind picks up and goes cross-shore, so it’s still messy.
The Rest of the Run: From Monday the 24th, the swell drops back to knee to waist-high with cross-on winds and short periods. There’s a bump around Friday the 28th with 7ft to 8ft from the N, but again, the wind is cross-on and the quality is only marginal. After that, it fades into small, weak surf into the first week of September. There might be a rideable wave or two, but nothing special.
So, the call is clear: Saturday morning the 22nd is your best bet. The rest is a bit of a lottery.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Sat night. Warm (max 26°C on Thu afternoon, min 19°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Thu 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNE 7 | N 7 | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | NNW 15 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NW 7 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
140 | 103 | 104 | 85 | 123 | 245 | 220 | 296 | 2726 | 2081 | 1733 | 872 | 727 | 430 | 273 | 191 | 116 | 57 | 79 | 181 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | on | glassy | cross-on | cross-off | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on |
High Tide | 8:28PM1.42m | 9:12AM1.46m | 10:05PM1.36m | 10:48AM1.48m | 11:34PM1.42m | 11:59AM1.59m | 00:31AM1.53m | 12:48PM1.73m | 1:12AM1.66m | 1:26PM1.88m | 1:46AM1.79m | 1:59PM2.02m | 2:18AM1.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 2:33AM0.81m | 3:41PM0.83m | 4:12AM0.84m | 5:21PM0.78m | 5:37AM0.77m | 6:24PM0.66m | 6:31AM0.64m | 7:07PM0.52m | 7:11AM0.50m | 7:41PM0.39m | 7:45AM0.37m | 8:13PM0.26m | ||||||||
— | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:35 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | 7:37 | — | — | |
8:47 | — | — | 8:46 | — | — | 8:45 | — | — | 8:44 | — | — | 8:43 | — | — | 8:42 | — | — | 8:40 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 19 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 26 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 21 | 26 | 25 | 23 |
Feels °C | 27 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 28 | 28 | 26 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | N 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | N 7 | N 10 | N 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 13 | NNW 12 | NNW 12 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | N 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NW 7 | NW 7 | S 11 |
29 | 103 | 13 | 13 | 103 | 245 | 220 | 232 | 2726 | 2081 | 1733 | 872 | 727 | 430 | 273 | 191 | 116 | 39 | 79 | 2 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | WNW 8 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | N 11 | NNE 6 | WNW 8 | NNW 15 | W 8 | S 13 | S 12 | W 8 | S 12 | S 12 | S 12 | NW 9 | NW 9 | N 8 | N 8 | N 9 |
14 | 23 | 40 | 41 | 123 | 30 | 14 | 296 | 12 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 57 | 29 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 15 | SSW 13 | WNW 10 | N 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | N 12 | N 11 | SSW 13 | — | — | S 12 | W 11 | W 10 | W 10 | S 11 | S 11 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | — |
42 | 17 | 10 | 30 | 26 | 14 | 26 | 39 | 17 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 7 | — | NNE 6 | NNE 6 | — | — | — | WSW 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 7 |
140 | — | 104 | 85 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 181 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 484 | 0 | 15 | 484 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 10 | 15 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Madeira | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











