Fonte da Telha Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s switch it over to feet and miles for those who think in those numbers.

Okay, so looking at the next two weeks here at Fonte da Telha, it’s a proper mixed forecast. The water is sitting at about 67°, which is a touch colder than average for the season, so keep that in mind.

We start slow. Monday morning (14th September) has a tiny 2ft NW swell but the wind is cross from the SSE and the energy is weak (just 145). Poor conditions. That carries on through Monday afternoon and into Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon actually sees the swell period drop to a pathetic 5 seconds — that’s just wind chop. Wednesday brings the swell up to about 6ft with solid energy (555 then 629), but that NNW wind is blowing 19 to 22 mph, making everything lumpy. Not good for paddling.

Thursday morning (17th) is the first real chance. Light NNE cross-offshore wind at 9 mph, 6ft of NW swell and strong energy (608). It’s only marked as marginal, but it’s the cleanest we’ve seen. Friday morning is similar — clean, lighter wind, 5ft NW swell with moderate energy (344).

But the highlight — and I mean the real highlight — is Saturday morning, 19th September. This is the one. We’ve got a 5ft NW groundswell with a 14-second period, pumping energy at 890. The wind is light ENE and offshore. That’s clean, glassy conditions for a spot that’s exposed to that WSW optimum direction. It’s beginner-friendly, fairly consistent, but crowds are often here, so get there early. The only thing: long-period groundswell like that can make beach breaks a little fast, but Fonte da Telha handles it well.

Sunday morning (20th) cleans up with 3ft NW swell and cross-offshore winds, though energy drops off. Monday morning (21st) is another clean session with 2ft NW swell and a 13-second period. Tuesday morning (22nd) is glassy with 3ft NW swell — perfect for a longboard.

Then we hit a flat patch from Wednesday 23rd through Saturday 26th. Swell drops right off, waves are tiny or chopped. Some clean windows but nothing worth paddling out for. Energy readings drop to as low as 29.

Sunday 27th morning shows 6ft W swell with moderate energy (809) and light NW wind — but it’s cross-shore. The afternoon jumps to 7ft WNW swell with massive energy (1258), but the onshore wind kills it. That’s solid size — over 8ft — so it’s expert only, and the conditions are messy.

Monday 28th and Tuesday 29th are back to marginal, with onshore wind and lumpy seas.

Bottom line: the absolute best session is Saturday morning, 19th September at Fonte da Telha. Offshore wind, clean 5ft NW groundswell with long period, and heaps of energy. That’s the one to aim for.

Rusty.

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