Playa do Carreiro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a long look at what’s shaking for Playa do Carreiro. It’s a river mouth, and we’ve got a real mixed bag over the next couple of weeks. The good news? There’s a proper pulse of energy building, but we’ve got to wade through some messy conditions first.

Right off the bat, don’t bother getting suited up for the first few days. Monday the 24th through Thursday the 27th is a write-off. We’ve got onshore winds, rain, and a messy cross-chop. The energy is building but it’s all slop. The swell is coming in from the SW to W, but the wind just kills it. You’re looking at a blank run here – nothing worth paddling out for. That’s just how it goes sometimes; the river needs a breather.

Now, Friday morning the 28th is where it gets interesting. The first true standout. The wind goes glassy, dead calm from the NNW (Slight air) and we’ve got an 8 ft swell rolling in from the WNW. That’s a proper groundswell with an 11-second period, and the combined energy is pumping hard at 1513. This is a lot of water moving. For the experienced crew only – this is not a beginner wave. It’s going to be big, powerful, and at a river mouth, those long-period lines might stand up a bit too straight for some. But for the guys who know what they’re doing, this is as clean as it gets. The water is 63°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year (–2° anomaly), so factor that in.

The surf drops off again over the weekend into early next week, with much smaller, cleaner but weaker energy. Monday the 31st of August and Tuesday the 1st of September see a return of that NW swell, chest to head high (6 ft), with clean cross-off winds. The energy is moderate (597 to 599), and it’s a much more relaxed vibe. Good for a solid session without the intensity of Friday.

Then we get another big wait. The middle of the first week of September is small and ordinary, but keep your eyes on Saturday the 5th of September. That is the second big standout. Saturday morning delivers another clean 7 ft WNW swell, this time with a 12-second period, and the energy is massive at 1602. The wind is light and cross-off from the NNW. It’s borderline too big for beginners, but for the experienced surfer, this is the best of the entire run. The afternoon holds at 7 ft with a 13-second period, but the wind picks up a bit. This is a long-range call, so there’s some uncertainty, but it looks like a cracker.

After that, we’ve got a reality check. Sunday the 6th gets onshore again, and then Monday the 7th of September is a monster. The combined swell energy hits 7835, with a 13 ft swell from the WNW and a 17-second period. That is an absolute beast. The wind is light and cross-on, but it’s simply too big for this break. This is a no-go zone for paddle surfing – it’s more of a spectacle or a kite session if you’re daring. The following Tuesday the 8th is still big and clean but windy from the N at 19 mph, making it a tough paddle.

So, to sum it up: your two true standouts are Friday morning the 28th of August for the big, glassy power session, and Saturday the 5th of September for the clean, long-period groundswell. The rest is either messy or too small. Keep an eye on the wind, because when it lines up here, it’s a proper river mouth gem.

Rusty.

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