Surf Forecasts:
Picao (Baia Formosa) surf forecast from 15 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Wednesday 16 Sep, 12AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 9AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 7s period, E swell with 209 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 15 Sep, 6PM (local time) - 3ft (0.9m), 6s period with E swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Picao (Baia Formosa) this week:
The surf forecast for Picao (Baia Formosa) over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Tuesday (Sep 15) at 6PM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.9m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s. Another secondary swell of 0.2m and 9s is also forecast. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Picao (Baia Formosa) in the next 16 days are 1.4m 7s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 9AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6PM (Tue 15th Sep) | 3ft (0.9m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Wed 16th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 9AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Picao (Baia Formosa) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you – this is a tough stretch for Picao (Baia Formosa). The whole 16-day window is pretty much a write-off for any decent session. You're looking at a reef break that is fairly exposed to the swell, and according to the guidance, the optimum swell direction is from the NE, but what we're seeing on offer is a constant stream of short-period, mostly E to ESE windswell.
The water temp is sitting at 81°, which is pretty much normal for this time of year, so no surprises there.
Honestly, from Tuesday the 15th all the way through to Wednesday the 30th, the story doesn’t change much. The combined swell energy climbs a bit, hitting some moderate numbers like 251 on Tuesday the 29th, but that doesn't help when the waves are coming from the wrong direction and the period is barely hitting 7 seconds. This is all windswell rubbish. The winds are mostly cross or cross-off, which can keep it looking clean, but the actual wave quality just isn't there. It’s a consistent break but the conditions are consistently poor. There's no standout day, no hidden gem.
Because the swell is so weak and short-period, and combined with the constant cross-shore breeze, this spot looks more interesting for a kite session than a proper paddle surf. You'd be battling a chop and a lack of power. For the whole second week, from the 23rd, the period actually stretches out a bit to 11-12 seconds, which is better, but the swell height drops right off to 2ft - 2ft, combined with an onshore wind. It’s a cruel tease.
Bottom line: don't bother waxing up. A blank run like this is normal for the area when the trade winds lock in. Forecasts can change, but for now, save your energy.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Tue afternoon). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 5mm), mostly falling on Fri morning. Warm (max 27°C on Fri morning, min 24°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 101 | 81 | 192 | 51 | 80 | 97 | 101 | 101 | 101 | 135 | 180 | 152 | 209 | 186 | 150 | 150 | 163 | 139 | 142 | 152 | 161 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 6:32PM1.96m | 6:55AM1.81m | 7:09PM1.80m | 7:39AM1.62m | 7:55PM1.64m | 8:39AM1.47m | 9:03PM1.52m | 10:14AM1.39m | 10:43PM1.49m | 11:55AM1.45m | 00:10AM1.60m | 12:58PM1.59m | 1:05AM1.76m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 12:20PM0.40m | 00:42AM0.41m | 12:55PM0.56m | 1:25AM0.56m | 1:37PM0.72m | 2:21AM0.71m | 2:40PM0.86m | 3:51AM0.80m | 4:24PM0.92m | 5:33AM0.78m | 5:57PM0.86m | 6:41AM0.66m | 6:55PM0.73m | ||||||||
 | |  |  | |  |  | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:13 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — | 5:09 | — | — |
 | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — | — | 5:15 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | SE 8 | E 7 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | SE 12 | SE 11 | NE 8 | SE 10 | NNE 12 | NE 12 | ESE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | ESE 10 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 12 | NE 11 |
| kJ | 8 | 18 | 70 | 26 | 17 | 35 | 30 | 3 | 26 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | NNE 9 | SE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 12 | NNE 10 | NE 9 | NE 13 | NNE 8 | NE 8 | N 16 | NNE 11 | N 14 | NE 14 | NE 10 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 5 | 8 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 14 | NE 11 | NE 8 | ESE 13 | NE 8 | NE 9 | NE 12 | E 11 | NE 13 | E 10 | S 13 | N 15 | N 15 | NNE 10 | NE 13 | N 10 | N 9 | S 12 | S 11 | S 11 | N 13 |
| kJ | 4 | 5 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 9 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 8 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 |
| kJ | 101 | 81 | 192 | 51 | 80 | 97 | 101 | 101 | 101 | 135 | 180 | 152 | 209 | 186 | 150 | 150 | 163 | 139 | 142 | 152 | 161 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 820 | 1586 | 0 | 1564 | 1653 | 1710 | 1653 | 1653 | 1653 | 1586 | 2152 | 1647 | 1586 | 1586 | 1564 | 1564 | 1564 | 979 | 1564 | 1586 | 1002 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Rio Grande Do Norte | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Picao (Baia Formosa) Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Picao (Baia Formosa) provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Picao (Baia Formosa) can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Picao (Baia Formosa) surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Picao (Baia Formosa)) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Picao (Baia Formosa) may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Picao is 12 km (7 miles) from Canguaretama. If you plan a holiday in Rio Grande Do Norte, look for hotels and other accommodation in Canguaretama. Canguaretama has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.
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