
Surf Forecasts:
Faja da Areia surf forecast from 9 Jul 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 14 Jul, 7PM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 9s period, N swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 11 Jul, 10PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NW swell with 411 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 14 Jul, 7PM (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 Tuesday (Jul 14) at 7PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 9s period with a secondary swell of 0.5m and 8s. 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 1.7m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Jul 11) at 10PM. 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 8s period and expected on Saturday (Jul 11) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Best Surf | 7PM (Tue 14th Jul) | 2ft (0.6m) 9s |
| Most Powerful | 10PM (Sat 11th Jul) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Faja da Areia over the next 16 days.
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s chew the fat on this outlook.
Honestly, the next 16 days are a real mixed bag, and mostly flat-out disappointing for Faja da Areia (Azores). We’ve got a long wait for anything that gets the blood pumping. The first bit of the outlook is a total washout – tiny, weak, and crossed-up wind. The best of what’s on the table is a specific window around the 23rd and 24th of July, but even that’s a marginal call, not a sure thing.
Right now, starting Thursday the 9th, it’s all small and messy. Thursday morning brings a tiny 1ft NW swell with a weak combined energy of just 47, and a cross-on breeze from the NNW at 6 mph. It’s a skunk. The water temp is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual. Friday the 10th morning goes glassy, which is a treat, but the swell is still a pathetic 1ft NW and the energy is only 40. Not a wave to be had. Saturday the 11th sees a slight bump to 3ft from the NNW in the morning, with energy climbing to 206, but it’s still cross-on and the score is a flat zero. Poor surf. This pattern of small, weak, cross-on swell with light wind continues day after day right through the 16th.
The first real standout, and it’s a hesitant one, is the morning of Thursday the 23rd of July. We finally see a consistent 4ft swell from the north, with a period of 8 seconds, and a combined energy of 208. The wind is still cross-on from the NNE at 6 mph, which isn’t ideal, but it’s the most energy we’ve seen in a while. The same goes for the afternoon of the 23rd and the morning of Friday the 24th, with 4ft and 5ft from the north and energy hitting 214 and 271 respectively. These are the only sessions where the combined energy gets into the moderate three-digit range, and the swell direction is finally matching the break’s optimum from the NNW. It’s still a light cross-on breeze, but it’s the closest we get to clean. For a point break like Faja da Areia, a 5ft north swell with a 9-second period can offer some fun, lined-up waves, but it’s not going to be a classic. This is definitely for adventurers and those who are keen to get wet, not for beginners. Anything over 5ft can be a handful for those just starting out, but this is on the edge of that.
The rest of the 24th onward looks like a drop back to small, weak, and onshore. Nothing else to write home about.
So, there it is. A long, quiet spell with only a couple of days that might offer a few turns. The best bet is to pencil in the 23rd and 24th of July mornings for a paddle, but keep your expectations in check. The setup is more interesting for a kite surfer than a pure paddle surfer during most of this run.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Fri morning, min 19°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummarySome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Tue morning, min 18°C on Sat night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Thursday 9 | Friday 10 | Saturday 11 | Sunday 12 | Monday 13 | Tuesday 14 | Wednesday 15 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 5 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
21 | 24 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 48 | 157 | 356 | 372 | 211 | 226 | 275 | 196 | 166 | 122 | 92 | 51 | 50 | 58 | 31 | 62 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 9:45AM1.68m | 10:11PM1.73m | 10:56AM1.75m | 11:26PM1.78m | 12:03PM1.88m | 00:34AM1.88m | 1:02PM2.03m | 1:33AM1.98m | 1:56PM2.18m | 2:27AM2.06m | 2:47PM2.30m | 3:16AM2.10m | 3:34PM2.37m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 3:53PM0.58m | 4:32AM0.47m | 5:10PM0.50m | 5:41AM0.41m | 6:19PM0.37m | 6:44AM0.31m | 7:20PM0.21m | 7:39AM0.21m | 8:15PM0.08m | 8:29AM0.13m | 9:06PM-0.01m | 9:17AM0.08m | 9:54PM-0.04m | ||||||||
7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | 7:09 | — | — | |
— | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:19 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:17 | — | — | 9:16 | — | — | 9:16 | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 25 | 25 | 20 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 21 |
Feels °C | 26 | 27 | 21 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 25 | 23 | 27 | 27 | 23 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNE 5 | NNE 5 | NW 8 | WNW 8 | NNW 10 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 8 | N 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 |
21 | 20 | 20 | 7 | 4 | 17 | 94 | 356 | 372 | 211 | 226 | 275 | 196 | 166 | 122 | 92 | 51 | 50 | 58 | 47 | 57 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 5 | NE 6 | NNE 5 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NNW 12 | NNW 11 | WNW 8 | SSW 19 | NNW 10 | SSW 18 | SSW 18 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SSW 15 | WNW 10 | NW 7 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | N 8 | NNE 9 |
6 | 8 | 2 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 49 | 83 | 37 | 65 | 31 | 30 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 10 | 23 | 31 | 37 | 31 | 62 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ENE 6 | ENE 5 | S 17 | NW 12 | NNW 11 | S 15 | S 14 | S 14 | S 16 | S 18 | S 14 | NE 5 | S 13 | S 13 | NW 11 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | NW 7 | NNE 11 | NNE 10 | NNW 6 |
3 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 13 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 25 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 21 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 8 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 4 | NW 5 | NW 4 | WNW 5 | WNW 4 | NW 5 | NNW 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | NE 3 |
17 | 24 | 18 | 9 | 12 | 48 | 157 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 528 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
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.










