Guarda do Embau Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here. Look, I’ll be straight with you – the first week or so is a bit of a write-off. We’re staring down the barrel of a lot of poor surf conditions and marginal days, with the odd clean window but nothing to paddle for. There’s a real gap from now until about the 5th of August where the surf just isn’t worth your time. After that, things start to get interesting, and the second week builds into something genuinely special – but you’ll need to be patient.

Let’s start with the first real flicker of hope. On the morning of Wednesday the 5th of August at Guarda do Embau, it’s glassy with light rain and a 2ft SSE swell at 10 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (246). It’s small and clean, but the water’s sitting at 66°, which is about average for this time of year. Not a standout, but a sign of life.

The real story kicks off on Monday the 10th of August. That afternoon, a clean 3ft swell from the SSE with a very long period of 14 seconds pushes in. The combined energy is strong (615), and with light offshore winds from the SW, this is a proper session. That long period will make the waves more organised and powerful, ideal for a river mouth like this.

Now, the standout. Tuesday the 11th of August is the one to circle. The morning sees a 10ft S swell at 10 seconds – combined energy is massive (3418) – and it’s glassy. This is too big for beginners, but for experienced surfers, the afternoon drops to 8ft from the SSE, still glassy, and the combined energy is 2340. The forecast says excellent conditions for experienced surfers. This is the best on offer in the whole window. The following morning, Wednesday the 12th, holds 6ft SSE swell, glassy, with strong energy (1064) – another excellent session for the crew who know what they’re doing.

Thursday the 13th of August morning is an 12ft SE swell, glassy, with combined energy at 3316, but again, that’s too big for this break. By Friday the 14th of August, the morning glass with a 6ft ESE swell and 901 energy is very good, and the afternoon brings a 5ft S swell with a 14-second period and clean conditions – combined energy is 1428, excellent for experienced surfers.

The standout is clear: Tuesday the 11th of August through to Wednesday morning the 12th is the pick. Glassy, solid groundswell, and that river mouth setup will handle the long period beautifully. Crowds are possible at Guarda do Embau, so get in early. The second week is the reward for suffering through the first.

Rusty.

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