Picao (Baia Formosa) Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let me be straight with you. This is a tough stretch for surf here at Picao (Baia Formosa). The forecast is basically a long, flat spell of poor conditions, so don’t get your hopes up for anything decent.

Right now, and for the next several days, we’re looking at a pretty grim run. The wind is locked in from the SE, blowing cross-off, which is actually the only good part—the surf looks clean. But the problem is the swell. It’s tiny, inconsistent, and weak. From Sunday the 23rd through Wednesday the 27th, we’re seeing waves around 3ft to 4ft, but with a short period of just 7 seconds, it’s all wind-slop with no push. The combined energy is weak, barely hitting triple digits (89 to 188). The surf is clean, but the wave comment is "poor surf conditions" – that’s the whole story. Add in a moderate breeze around 15 mph, and it’s just not worth paddling out.

There is a slight flicker of hope on Thursday the 27th morning. The swell bumps up to 5ft from the ESE, and the period stretches to 8 seconds. The combined energy jumps to 455 (moderate), and the wind is a lighter 12 mph. The report says "marginal surf forecast," but honestly, that’s the best we’ve got. It’s not great, but it’s the only window that’s even close to rideable, and the water temp is a pleasant 80°, which is about normal for this time of year.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. From Friday the 28th all the way through to Monday the 7th of September, the pattern is the same: cross-shore or cross-off winds, swell heights bouncing between 4ft and 5ft, but always with a short period (7-8 seconds) and "poor surf conditions" across the board. The energy values are consistently weak to moderate (199 to 333), but the wave quality just isn’t there. It’s a long, drawn-out stretch of nothing.

There is a glimmer again on Friday the 4th of September afternoon. The wind turns cross-off from the SE, the swell is 5ft from the E at 8 seconds, and the energy is moderate (304). The report says "marginal surf forecast". That’s the only other moment worth mentioning, but it’s a full week and a half away, so don’t bank on it.

Bottom line: Picao is in a prolonged funk. The surf is small, weak, and generally poor. There’s no standout session here. The only real chances are Thursday the 27th morning and Friday the 4th of September afternoon, and even those are just "marginal." If you’re desperate for a paddle, those are your windows, but don’t expect much. The rest of the 16 days is a write-off.

Rusty.

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