Surf Forecasts:
Picao (Baia Formosa) surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Saturday 22 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s period, E swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 20 Aug, 3AM (local time) - 6ft (1.9m), 9s period, SE swell with 542 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 22 Aug, 6AM (local time) - 3.5ft (1.0m), 7s 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 Saturday (Aug 22) at 6AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.0m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 8s. 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 9s 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 0.4m 8s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 6PM.
| Wave Type | Time (-03) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 6AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 6AM (Sat 22nd Aug) | 3.5ft (1.0m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 3AM (Thu 20th Aug) | 6ft (1.9m) 9s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Picao (Baia Formosa) over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, Rusty here, and I’m calling it as it is. The outlook for Picao break, at Baia Formosa, is a total washout for the next sixteen days. The surf finder didn’t throw up a single good option, so I’m just going to tell you what we’re dealing with.
The water’s at 81°F, which is normal for this time of year, so at least that’s comfortable.
But from Tuesday the 18th of August all the way through Wednesday the 2nd of September, every single session is marked as “poor surf conditions.” The swell is small and weak, mostly 3ft to 5ft, with a pathetic short period of 6 to 8 seconds. That’s nothing but windswill. The combined energy readings are mostly in the low to mid hundreds—like 187 on Tuesday morning, 228 on Thursday morning—which is weak to moderate energy, and it’s all coming from the ESE or E. This reef needs a good NE swell to really work, and it’s not getting it.
The wind is the real problem. It’s almost always a cross-off or cross-shore breeze from the SE or ESE, blowing anywhere from 12 to 22 mph. On a lot of days it’s a fresh breeze. While that keeps the surface clean, it’s doing nothing to make this weak, short-period swell any better. The surf just never gets any quality.
This is a spot that breaks consistently, but it’s not happening this time. We’re looking at a solid two-week gap from the 18th of August to the 2nd of September with zero recommendations. For this area, when the wind and swell don’t gel, a dry spell like this isn’t that unusual.
If you’re really itching, the afternoons of the 18th, 19th, 23rd, and 24th of August look the cleanest, but the swell is still tiny and weak. The biggest energy shows up on the 2nd of September, with readings of 249 and 255, and swell heights hitting 5ft, but the period is still a short 7 seconds and the wind is a cross-off. Still poor.
There’s nothing here worth paddling out for. The forecast can always change, but right now, don’t bother.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 15mm), heaviest on Tue night. Warm (max 26°C on Tue morning, min 23°C on Tue night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Fri night. Warm (max 27°C on Sun morning, min 24°C on Fri night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
147 | 148 | 305 | 143 | 176 | 215 | 215 | 234 | 193 | 156 | 151 | 147 | 91 | 71 | 99 | 128 | 152 | 163 | 177 | 178 | 181 | |
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 | cross | cross | cross | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-off | cross-off |
High Tide | 7:57PM1.80m | 8:23AM1.68m | 8:46PM1.65m | 9:26AM1.51m | 9:55PM1.54m | 10:55AM1.43m | 11:25PM1.53m | 12:28PM1.47m | 00:44AM1.61m | 1:29PM1.59m | 1:38AM1.75m | 2:12PM1.73m | 2:19AM1.91m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 1:43PM0.54m | 2:09AM0.60m | 2:30PM0.70m | 3:10AM0.72m | 3:35PM0.83m | 4:36AM0.78m | 5:06PM0.87m | 6:06AM0.74m | 6:29PM0.81m | 7:12AM0.64m | 7:26PM0.70m | 7:59AM0.50m | 8:08PM0.57m | ||||||||
5:26 | — | — | 5:26 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | 5:24 | — | — | |
— | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:21 | — | — | 5:20 | — | — | 5:20 | — | |
mm | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 2 | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 25 |
Feels °C | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 27 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 25 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 10 | NNE 11 | ESE 7 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 | NE 9 | NE 9 | NE 8 | SE 8 | SE 8 | NE 8 | NE 8 | SE 8 | NE 8 | NNE 10 | NNE 9 | NNE 9 |
21 | 12 | 131 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 8 | 8 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 8 | NNE 8 | ESE 10 | S 12 | — | N 10 | N 11 | N 9 | N 9 | S 13 | N 9 | S 12 | NE 8 | NE 8 | N 8 | N 8 | NNE 8 | SE 8 | N 10 | — | — |
7 | 7 | 10 | 12 | — | 8 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNE 11 | N 11 | NNE 11 | N 12 | — | — | N 11 | S 16 | S 14 | N 9 | S 13 | N 9 | S 12 | — | S 11 | N 11 | N 10 | N 10 | — | — | — |
12 | 21 | 12 | 3 | — | — | 2 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | — | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | ESE 6 | E 7 | SE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 8 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | ESE 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | E 7 | ESE 7 |
147 | 148 | 305 | 143 | 176 | 215 | 215 | 234 | 193 | 156 | 151 | 147 | 91 | 71 | 99 | 128 | 152 | 163 | 177 | 178 | 181 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 1564 | 1564 | 979 | 1115 | 1564 | 979 | 1019 | 1586 | 979 | 820 | 1967 | 983 | 554 | 2182 | 1002 | 2021 | 1967 | 979 | 234 | 1653 | 1653 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Rio Grande Do Norte | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.











