
Surf Forecasts:
Faja da Areia surf forecast from 7 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 12 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 9s period, WNW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Monday 10 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.1m), 9s period, N swell with 177 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 8 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 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 Saturday (Aug 08) at 1AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.7m 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 1.1m 9s and forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 10) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.9m 9s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 12) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 1AM (Sat 8th Aug) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 1AM (Wed 12th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Mon 10th Aug) | 3.5ft (1.1m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Faja da Areia over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s talk about what’s going on in the water.
The first week or so is pretty quiet. We’ve got a real dry spell of small, weak, and messy conditions. The wind is mostly on it or coming across the face, and the wave energy is just too low to be worth the paddle out. The water is a touch warmer than what’s normal for this time of year, around 77°F. The swell direction is all over the place, but it’s mostly tiny stuff from the N and NNW, none of it really breaking with any quality.
The first chance to actually get a wave is on Tuesday morning, August 11th. It’s only a 2-foot wave from the N, but the wind goes glassy, so the surface will be clean. It’s a ‘surfable but ordinary’ kind of session, with the energy being pretty low (88). That’s about it for the first week, as it’s back to small, cross-onshore junk right through until the weekend of the 16th and 17th, where the swell picks up a bit to around 4 feet, but the period is short and the wind is still rubbish.
Things start to look up on Thursday, August 20th. The morning session shows a 5-foot swell from the NNE with a 7-second period, and a glassy light breeze from the west-northwest. The energy is getting up there (257). That’s the first real ‘good’ note we’ve seen. The afternoon gets a bit bigger, up to 5 feet, but the wind shifts, so the morning is the one to aim for.
The biggest swell of the whole forecast is shaping up for Saturday, August 22nd. We’re looking at a solid 6-foot swell from the N with a 9-second period. The energy is pumping (641). The wind is a light cross-onshore from the north-northwest, which should keep it clean enough. That’s your best bet. That NNE direction is spot on for this spot. It’s a bit much for the groms, but it’s not out of control for a decent surfer on a point. The only catch is this spot is known to be ‘inconsistent’ and ‘rarely breaks’, but if it comes together, that Saturday will be the only day worth getting out of bed for in the whole 16 days.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Fri afternoon, min 18°C on Sun night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 28°C on Thu morning, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Fri 7 | Saturday 8 | Sunday 9 | Monday 10 | Tuesday 11 | Wednesday 12 | Thursday 13 | ||||||||||||||
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) | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | N 9 | NW 7 | NNW 5 | NNW 9 | N 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 11 |
Wave Graph | ||||||||||||||||||||
74 | 56 | 57 | 57 | 54 | 32 | 45 | 158 | 115 | 87 | 58 | 40 | 75 | 158 | 158 | 40 | 34 | 82 | 61 | 111 | |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | on | glassy | cross-on | on | on | cross-on | on | on | on | on | glassy | glassy | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:54PM1.62m | 10:40AM1.69m | 11:22PM1.68m | 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 | |||||||
Low Tide | 4:12AM0.59m | 5:04PM0.55m | 5:34AM0.52m | 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 | ||||||||
— | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:26 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | 7:28 | — | — | |
— | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | — | 9:00 | — | 8:59 | — | — | 8:58 | — | — | 8:57 | — | — | 8:55 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 28 | 24 | 28 | 27 | 22 | 26 | 23 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 26 | 21 | 27 | 27 | 21 | 28 | 27 | 22 |
Feels °C | 31 | 29 | 31 | 29 | 24 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 28 | 26 | 22 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 29 | 29 | 23 | 29 | 29 | 24 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 6 | E 6 | N 9 | N 9 | NW 7 | N 9 | NNW 9 | WNW 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 11 |
39 | 38 | 57 | 57 | 54 | 25 | 45 | 10 | 115 | 87 | 58 | 40 | 75 | 158 | 158 | 140 | 111 | 82 | 61 | 111 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 9 | N 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | N 9 | NNW 9 | N 9 | ENE 5 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | WNW 10 | N 7 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NW 13 | WNW 8 |
74 | 56 | 37 | 35 | 40 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 56 | 26 | 50 | 42 | 40 | 34 | 19 | 42 | 37 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | ENE 6 | S 11 | ENE 5 | NW 7 | S 12 | NW 11 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 10 | NNW 14 | NNW 13 | ENE 6 | N 6 | N 6 | N 13 | NNW 12 | N 10 | N 11 |
44 | 39 | 18 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 40 | 58 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 16 | 20 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 2 | NE 5 | — | NNW 5 | N 4 | N 9 | — | — | — | ENE 4 | ENE 4 | — | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | ENE 5 | NE 5 | ENE 5 | ENE 6 |
— | — | 1 | 23 | — | 32 | 33 | 158 | — | — | — | 8 | 8 | — | 14 | 15 | 18 | 25 | 34 | 41 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 15 | 0 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Madeira | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | ||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
Latest Updates
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.











