Surf Forecasts:
Picao (Baia Formosa) surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period, SE swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 7s period, ESE swell with 372 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Thursday 20 Aug, 12AM (local time) - 6ft (1.8m), 7s period with SE 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 Thursday (Aug 20) at 12AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.8m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 1.2m and 7s. Another secondary swell of 0.4m 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 1.9m 7s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Aug 20) at 3AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.3m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 16) at 9AM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 12AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.8m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 7s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Picao (Baia Formosa) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, it’s Rusty here. Let’s be straight with you: the next couple of weeks are looking pretty bleak for a proper surf. We’ve got one spot on the radar, Picao (Baia Formosa), but even it is locked into a pattern of poor conditions. The swell energy is weak to moderate all through, and the wind just won’t give us a break. There’s a lot of nothing on the horizon, so if you’re itching for a wave, you might be better off finding another hobby for a bit.
The water's sitting at 81°F with a small anomaly of 1°F, so nothing weird there—pretty standard for the time of year.
We're looking at a solid gap here. The whole forecast period is a washout, with the first real chance of anything half-decent not appearing until around the 25th of August, and even that is a long shot. The run-up to that is days of 1 to 5ft of swell coming from the ESE, but the period is mostly short and junky, and that cross-off wind just isn't doing us any favors. It’s mostly knee to waist-high slop.
There is a slight pulse of energy around the 20th, with the combined energy reading around 216, but the swell is still directionless and messy. A few afternoons, like the 22nd, see the wind drop a bit, but the surf is still poor. We see tiny windows where the wind goes a bit more cross-off, but the quality is just not there.
The last week of the forecast holds a bit more promise, but don't get too excited. Around the 25th, we see the swell pick up a touch to 5ft from the E with an energy reading of 207, and the wind at 16 mph looks a bit more favorable. Still, it's a far cry from good. The pick of a bad bunch is the morning of the 26th of August, when that 4ft E swell is met with an 19 mph cross-off breeze. But even that is only going to be a grovelly, average day.
Honestly, the whole setup looks more interesting for the kite surfers than us paddle surfers. With the constant cross-shore winds and small, chopped-up surf, you're just fighting a losing battle. Unless you're desperate, it’s a time to get the gear sorted and wait for a better window.
Stay salty.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 27°C on Sat morning, min 23°C on Sat night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 24°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 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) | E 10 | ESE 5 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 48 | 46 | 131 | 117 | 185 | 114 | 151 | 144 | 98 | 91 | 108 | 98 | 104 | 135 | 330 | 203 | 186 | 138 | 113 | 142 | 146 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross |
High Tide | 6:01PM2.20m | 6:15AM2.28m | 6:38PM2.09m | 6:55AM2.09m | 7:16PM1.95m | 7:36AM1.88m | 7:57PM1.80m | 8:23AM1.68m | 8:46PM1.65m | 9:26AM1.51m | 9:55PM1.54m | 10:55AM1.43m | 11:25PM1.53m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 11:51AM0.06m | 00:01AM0.20m | 12:27PM0.21m | 00:41AM0.32m | 1:04PM0.37m | 1:22AM0.45m | 1:43PM0.54m | 2:09AM0.60m | 2:30PM0.70m | 3:10AM0.72m | 3:35PM0.83m | 4:36AM0.78m | 5:06PM0.87m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — |
 | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 27 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 25 | 24 | 25 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | E 10 | ESE 10 | ESE 13 | ESE 12 | NNE 9 | ESE 12 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | ESE 11 | ESE 10 | NNE 11 | SE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | E 7 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NE 9 | NE 8 |
| kJ | 48 | 33 | 131 | 117 | 8 | 77 | 8 | 8 | 38 | 20 | 12 | 24 | 10 | 10 | 128 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 17 | 3 | 3 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 9 | ESE 12 | NE 9 | NE 9 | N 13 | NNE 9 | NE 13 | NE 12 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | NNE 11 | ESE 9 | — | SE 9 | N 11 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | NE 9 | N 9 | N 9 |
| kJ | 9 | 31 | 20 | 12 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 9 | — | 20 | 2 | 9 | 9 | 3 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SE 16 | NE 9 | S 14 | N 13 | NNE 9 | SE 16 | N 13 | NNE 9 | NNE 12 | NNE 11 | N 11 | NE 8 | SSE 9 | — | NNE 10 | N 11 | N 9 | S 14 | S 13 | S 13 | S 12 |
| kJ | 10 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 10 | 29 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 21 | 3 | 8 | — | 10 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | ESE 5 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 6 | ESE 6 | E 6 | ESE 7 | SE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 |
| kJ | 43 | 46 | 77 | 107 | 185 | 114 | 151 | 144 | 98 | 91 | 108 | 98 | 104 | 135 | 330 | 203 | 186 | 138 | 113 | 142 | 146 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 979 | 1640 | 1586 | 981 | 1586 | 1586 | 1586 | 1640 | 1564 | 1564 | 1564 | 989 | 979 | 1586 | 0 | 831 | 1586 | 979 | 820 | 1975 | 2065 |
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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