Faja da Areia Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of days are a bit of a washout for Faja da Areia, with only small, weak, and messy swell on offer. There’s a bit of a wait for anything worthwhile, but the back half of the forecast window has some real potential.

We kick off on Friday the 10th with tiny waves around 1 ft from the NW, period only 8 seconds, and a light cross-onshore breeze. The water’s sitting at 74°, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. It’s pretty poor right now.

Saturday the 11th sees a bump in size to 4 ft from the NNW, but it’s still short-period and cross-on. The energy is moderate (274), but the conditions are still second-rate.

Sunday the 12th is the first day to get a bit more interesting. Swell builds to 5 ft from the NW, period up to 9 seconds, and the energy is ramping up (408). The wind is light cross-shore, which is an improvement, but it’s still marginal. The rain showers might keep the crowds down, which is a silver lining.

Monday the 13th is a mixed bag. The morning is poor, but the afternoon turns glassy. The swell is 3 ft from the NNW, and while it’s not big, the glassy conditions make it surfable. It’s ordinary, but clean.

From Tuesday the 14th through Thursday the 16th, we’re in a flat spell. Waves drop to 2 ft or less, with barely any energy (as low as 29). The wind is glassy or calm, but there’s just no push. A few days of nothing.

Friday the 17th and Saturday the 18th start to show a pulse again, with swell building to 5 ft – 6 ft from the NE, but the wind is cross-on and the period is short (6-7 seconds). The energy is moderate (up to 306), but it’s still poor quality.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Sunday the 19th is the first standout. The swell jumps to 8 ft and then 10 ft from the NE, with a period of 8 seconds. The energy is strong (827 to 1016). This is big, powerful surf, and it’s coming from the optimum NNW direction. The wind is cross-on, but for a point break like Faja da Areia, that’s manageable. This is for experienced surfers only – it’s too big for beginners.

Monday the 20th holds the same size, 10 ft from the NE, with energy over 1000. The wind is lighter, but still cross-on. The conditions are still marginal, but the power is undeniable.

Tuesday the 21st is the absolute best of the bunch. The swell drops to a still-solid 7 ft from the NE, but the wind goes glassy in the morning. That’s a major positive. The energy is very strong (617). The wave comment says “expect very good surf conditions,” and that’s what we’re looking at. For a point break, this is a score.

After that, the swell slowly fades through the rest of the week. Wednesday the 22nd through Saturday the 25th sees waves from 6 ft down to 5 ft, with light cross-on breezes. The energy drops from strong (504) to weak (188). The quality is marginal at best, with poor conditions returning by the end.

So, the standout is Tuesday the 21st: glassy morning, 7 ft NE swell, strong energy, and the optimum direction. That’s the one to circle. The weekend before (19th-20th) is also worth a look for the crew who like it big and powerful, but it’s a rough ride.

Rusty.

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