Farol da Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the menu for the next couple of weeks. We’ve only got one spot lighting up the charts, so I’ll take you through it day by day.

The forecast is a real mixed bag for Farol da Barra (point). Right now, the pattern is for a fair bit of wind and chop, but there are a couple of windows where things could clean up. The water temp is sitting right on 79°, which is bang on average for this time of year – nothing unusual there.

We kick off on Tuesday, July 14th. The morning is looking like the best of a bad bunch early on. We’ve got a tiny 2ft swell from the SE, with a 10-second period. The energy is weak (64), but the wind is a light, cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, so the surface will be clean. It’s absolutely tiny, but it’s surfable. That’s the pick of the first few days, but don’t expect much. The afternoon turns to rubbish as a strong onshore wind swings in.

Wednesday the 15th through to the end of the following week is mostly a write-off. The swell does pick up – we see a big 8ft from the SSE on Wednesday morning, and the energy jumps to 680 (moderate), but the wind is a strong, messy cross-onshore. It’s lumpy, choppy, and blown out. That kind of size with that wind is not a paddle surfer’s friend; honestly, with the strong onshore wind and that beach setup, this looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing.

Thursday the 16th and Friday the 17th see a solid swell hold in, with 6-6ft from the SE and a long 11-second period. The energy is strong (1395-1497), but the wind stays heavy from the cross-onshore direction. It’s just a mess of lumpy, choppy conditions. The longer period suggests better shaped waves underneath, but you’ll be battling the wind all session.

We get a bit of a break in the wind on Sunday, July 19th. The morning has a light cross-shore breeze from the E, with a 5ft SE swell. The period is shorter at 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate (350). It’s described as marginal, but it’s the cleanest the surf will be for a while after that windy stretch. Still, nothing to get too excited about.

The next real standout, and the only one I’d call a true highlight, is on Thursday, July 23rd. The morning session is where it’s at. We’ve got a 4ft swell from the ESE, with an 8-second period. The energy is moderate (275). But the key is the wind – a light cross-offshore breeze from the ENE, making for clean conditions. The description says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the best bet in the whole 16-day window. It’s small, but it’ll be clean and fun on that point.

After that, things fade back into a bit of a lull with onshore winds and small surf, until we see a late spike on Tuesday, July 28th. That morning brings a solid 8ft from the SSE, and the energy is strong (715). But again, the wind is a cross-onshore, so it’s going to be a bumpy, expert-only affair with that size and period.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is mostly blown out. Don’t bother paddling out from Wednesday the 15th through most of the following week. The only real standout for a clean, fun session is the morning of Thursday, July 23rd. It’s not big, but it’ll be the best waves you’ll see. The end of the month has size, but it comes with wind.

Stay safe, stay stoked.

Rusty.

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