Faja da Areia Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s get into it for this stretch. We’ve got a long outlook ahead, but the truth is, the first week and a half looks pretty grim for any kind of decent paddle. The good news is there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, but you’re gonna have to be patient.

The overall pattern is a lot of low-energy, short-period windswell and persistent cross-onshore winds. The first real chance of anything surfable doesn’t come until the second week, and even then, it’s not a world-beater, but it’s the best we’ve got.

Right now, starting Saturday the 5th of September, it’s a no-go. We’re looking at 2 ft of dribble from the WNW with a period of 8 seconds, and the wind is on it. The combined energy is a measly 86 (weak). That carries straight through the weekend and into the next week. On Sunday the 6th, the swell bumps up a bit to 3 ft from the NNW and the period stretches to 13 seconds, which is a nice long groundswell, but the wind is cross-onshore. The energy picks up to 320 (moderate), but with the wind chop, it’s just a messy one. The water temperature is a touch warmer than normal at 77°F.

We then go through a whole run of days with very poor surf conditions. Monday the 7th through to the end of the week is all short-period junk (6-7 seconds) from the NE and NNE, with heights ranging from 4 ft to 6 ft. The energy fluctuates but stays in the moderate range (152 to 590). The wind is a constant light cross-onshore, which just ruins the shape. Nothing worth paddling out for.

The situation improves slightly around the 10th and 11th of September, but it’s still marginal at best. The swell is mixed up and short period, so it’s a hard pass.

Now, here’s the standout. It’s not a big swell, but it’s the cleanest window we get. On Monday the 14th of September, we finally get a break. The wind goes glassy, offshore from the WSW in the morning, switching to light offshore from the NNW in the afternoon. The swell drops to a clean 4 ft to 4 ft from the NNE, with an 8-second period. The combined energy is moderate (328). This is your best shot. The break is Faja da Areia, a point break that is inconsistent and rarely breaks, so catching it in this window is a real treat. Because it’s a point break, that short period isn’t as much of a drama. The water is still a touch warmer than normal. This is the one to circle.

Tuesday the 15th of September starts with glassy conditions again in the morning, with 4 ft from the NNE, but the wind gets cross-on in the afternoon, so morning is the move. After that, the surf fades quickly. The rest of the week into the 20th sees the swell drop back to 1 ft to 3 ft, and the wind is back on it or cross-onshore, with energy levels falling back to weak (71-160). It’s a long gap at the end with nothing worth chasing.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off. The only real standout is the 14th and morning of the 15th of September at Faja da Areia, with clean, glassy conditions and a fun little point break wave. Don’t expect big waves, but expect clean, rideable lines.

Rusty.

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