Molhe de Picarras Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a good hard look at what’s coming our way. We’ve only got one spot on the menu for the next sixteen days, and it’s a bit of a mixed bag.

Our only option is Molhe de Picarras, a sheltered breakwater setup that's better for beginners. The water temp is sitting at 66°F, which is pretty average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit just yet.

Right now it’s a slow start. There’s a bit of swell on Friday the 28th with 5ft from the ENE (period 8s), but the wind is onshore from the NE and the wave quality is poor, so it's a sit-on-the-beach day. Saturday the 29th morning sees the swell drop to 4ft, still from the ENE, with a cross-offshore breeze from the SSE. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. That theme continues through the weekend and into Monday.

Tuesday the 1st of September offers some small 3ft swell from the ENE with cleaner conditions and a cross-offshore wind, but the energy is low. Honestly, it’s pretty grim.

Then things get interesting. Wednesday the 2nd of September morning brings a jump in quality. The swell hits 4ft from the SE with a period of 12s, clean offshore wind from the SW, and solid moderate combined wave energy (458). The forecast says "expect good surf conditions." This is the first real standout. That long-period SE groundswell will wrap in nicely, offering proper shape. The only bummer? This break is inconsistent, so don't expect non-stop waves, and crowds are likely here.

Thursday the 3rd and Friday the 4th are back to small and weak, with the swell dropping under 3ft. We enter another gap of a few days where it’s really not worth paddling out.

The next true highlight is Sunday the 6th of September morning. We get another dose of solid SE swell at 4ft, a 12-second period (groundswell), glassy conditions with no wind, and strong combined energy (428). This is the best of the bunch for the whole forecast – clean, punchy waves for those who know where to sit. Again, it's inconsistent and will be busy.

Monday the 7th of September morning is also a beauty. The swell holds around 4ft from the SE, the period stretches out to a very long 14s, and the wind is dead calm and glassy. The combined energy is a strong 430. This is a session for the more experienced surfer – that long period will make for some clean, powerful lines at this break, but the sets will be a bit spaced. Another one to circle on the calendar.

After that, the energy fades fast. The second week is slim pickings. A few small, short-period leftovers on the 10th and 11th but with onshore winds and poor conditions. By the 11th of September, the swell actually picks up to 5-6ft from the SE, but the wind is onshore and messy, making it a bit of a washout. That's about as close as we get to a late-period buzz, and it's not much.

So, to sum it up: the standouts are the mornings of Wednesday the 2nd of September, Sunday the 6th of September, and Monday the 7th of September. Those are your windows for clean, good-quality surf. Everything else is flat or blown out.

Keep your eyes on the sky and your board ready.

Rusty

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