
Surf Forecasts:
Picao (Baia Formosa) surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 14 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period, ESE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 12 Sep, 3AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 8s period, ESE swell with 263 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 14 Sep, 6AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.3m), 8s period with ESE 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 Monday (Sep 14) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.3m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 1.0m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m and 8s 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 1.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 12) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Mon 14th Sep) | 4.5ft (1.3m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 5ft (1.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Picao (Baia Formosa) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Gotta be straight with you—this 16-day stretch for the region is a tough one to call. The overall pattern is a whole lot of nothing special. We’re looking at a run of small, short-period windswell coming out of the east, and the wind is just not co-operating. That east-southeast breeze is hanging in there day after day, putting a cross-chop on the surface and making things messy. There are a few windows where it gets close to clean, but the wave quality is just poor throughout. The first real gap is... well, right from the start. There’s no proper surf to recommend for the entire period.
We’ve got one spot to look at, and it’s Picao (Baia Formosa) . It’s a reef break, consistent, so at least it’s always breaking, but with this forecast it’s just not happening. The water temp feels about average for this time of year, nothing unusual there. This east swell is coming from the wrong direction for Picao too—it needs it from the northeast to really work.
So, let’s run through it. From Saturday the 12th through to the end on the 27th of September, every single morning and afternoon session is marked by poor surf. The energy is weak to moderate at best—the combined energy figure rarely cracks 200, hovering mostly in the 100s, which tells you there’s just no grunt in the water. The swell height is between 3ft and 5ft, with a short period of just 6 to 8 seconds. That’s pure windswell, lacking any real shape or push.
There’s a brief taste of better conditions on a few afternoons—Sunday the 14th, Thursday the 17th, Monday the 21st, and Tuesday the 22nd—where the wind goes cross-offshore. This cleans the face up, giving us a window of clean surf. But don’t get too excited; it’s still small and weak (combined energy around 150 to 160). For a surfer, that’s knee-high dribble with a clean face. Not worth the drive.
Because the swell is weak and the wind is mostly cross-shore, this setup actually looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing throughout this whole stretch. There’s just no standout day here, nothing that rises above the rest. It’s a flat, bumpy outlook with a couple of clean-ish moments that still lack any real wave quality.
Hang in there, it tends not to stay this poor forever. Forecasts can change.
- Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 2mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Tue morning, min 25°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | ||||||||||||||
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 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||
256 | 177 | 183 | 263 | 131 | 108 | 103 | 108 | 178 | 134 | 86 | 138 | 92 | 131 | 66 | 61 | 85 | 100 | 67 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 4:30AM2.44m | 4:51PM2.30m | 5:07AM2.35m | 5:25PM2.22m | 5:42AM2.20m | 5:58PM2.11m | 6:18AM2.01m | 6:32PM1.96m | 6:55AM1.81m | 7:09PM1.80m | 7:39AM1.62m | 7:55PM1.64m | |||||||
Low Tide | 10:18PM0.07m | 10:41AM0.02m | 10:54PM0.09m | 11:15AM0.11m | 11:29PM0.16m | 11:47AM0.24m | 00:05AM0.27m | 12:20PM0.40m | 00:42AM0.41m | 12:55PM0.56m | 1:25AM0.56m | 1:37PM0.72m | 2:21AM0.71m | ||||||
— | 5:15 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:13 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | 5:11 | — | — | |
— | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:16 | — | — | 5:15 | — | |
mm | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 26 |
Feels °C | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 7 | NE 10 | NE 10 | E 7 | NE 9 | SE 9 | ESE 8 | SE 8 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | SE 8 | NNE 9 | SE 8 | ESE 13 | ESE 8 | SE 12 | ESE 11 | NE 8 | SE 10 |
183 | 27 | 25 | 156 | 22 | 19 | 27 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 8 | 18 | 17 | 23 | 35 | 47 | 3 | 25 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NE 11 | ESE 11 | ESE 11 | NE 10 | N 13 | NE 9 | NNE 9 | NNE 10 | NE 12 | N 15 | NNE 9 | NE 11 | NE 8 | NE 8 | ESE 12 | ESE 8 | NE 8 | E 11 | NNE 8 |
29 | 12 | 12 | 23 | 3 | 22 | 17 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 6 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 12 | S 18 | S 17 | ESE 11 | N 9 | N 13 | S 13 | NE 12 | S 12 | N 15 | NE 11 | N 13 | NE 10 | N 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NE 12 | N 13 | E 10 |
26 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 2 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 8 | E 7 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 | E 7 | E 6 | E 6 |
256 | 177 | 183 | 263 | 131 | 108 | 103 | 108 | 178 | 134 | 86 | 138 | 92 | 131 | 66 | 61 | 85 | 100 | 67 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 820 | 787 | 1586 | 1479 | 831 | 1653 | 69 | 1564 | 1564 | 1019 | 1586 | 1586 | 1019 | 820 | 1653 | 1002 | 1653 | 1653 | 1627 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Rio Grande Do Norte | |||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||
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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.










