Molho Leste Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me break it down for you. It’s Rusty here, and I’ve been staring at the charts for Molho Leste. Truth is, the next week and a bit is pretty grim. We’re talking flat to tiny, junk wind, and the kind of surf that’ll have you wondering why you even bothered dragging the board out of the shed.

From Tuesday, the 14th of July, right through the following week, it’s a write-off. The swell is tiny – mostly under 2ft – and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, killing any chance of a clean wave. The combined swell energy is barely a whisper, with readings like 55 (weak energy) on the Tuesday morning, and it just gets worse from there. The period is short, around 6 to 9 seconds, so it’s all wind swell slop. You’ll find a few small, lumpy lines on the sandbar, but it’s not worth a paddle. Honestly, the water temperature is a bit cooler than normal for this time of year, sitting at 64°F, so it’s not even a comfortable wait.

We’ve got a long gap of nothing. Then, finally, things start to look up around the 22nd of July. The swell starts to push up a little, and more importantly, the wind swings to a cross-offshore from the north. It’s still not perfect, but it’s a step in the right direction.

The real standout window is the 24th and 25th of July – that’s a Friday and Saturday. The swell is coming from the NW with a period of 11 seconds, which is a solid groundswell. The height is building to 5ft on the Friday afternoon and then a meaty 6ft on the Saturday. The combined energy jumps to 743 and then 851 – that’s moderate to strong energy, and you’ll feel it. The wind is a clean cross-offshore from the north, blowing at 15 to 19 mph. That’s a strong breeze, but it’s offshore, so it’s going to groom the waves and keep them clean. This is for experienced surfers only – 6ft is pushing into the too-big-for-beginners territory, and the period means there will be some power in the sets. The break is a sandbar and it’s inconsistent, so you’ll need to be patient, but when it comes, it’ll be worth it. This is the best on offer, no question.

After that little pulse, the swell fades quickly. The 26th drops back to 2ft, and by the 27th and 28th, it’s flat again. The 29th of July shows a little 4ft NW swell, but the wind is strong and the combined energy is moderate at 204, so it’s a maybe, but not a standout.

So, to sum it up: the first week is a total bust. The second week, particularly the 24th and 25th of July, is your window. Get on it if you’re an expert and like a bit of power.

Rusty

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