Playa do Carreiro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's talk about what's cookin' for Playa do Carreiro over the next couple of weeks. To be straight with you, it's a slow start. The first week or so is pretty flat and grovelly. We've got a long gap with nothing worth paddling out for, from now right through to the end of July. The good news is, things start to look up as we head into the last few days of the month and into early August.

The water temp is about average for this time of year, nothing weird to report.

For the first few days, we're looking at tiny waves. Sunday the 19th and Monday the 20th are a write-off with weak 1ft to 2ft WNW swell and poor onshore or cross-onshore wind. The wave energy is in the dumps (27 to 65). Tuesday the 21st through Thursday the 23rd see some glassy mornings with that same tiny 1ft to 1ft WNW swell and the period stretches to 10 seconds which is nice, but there's just no power (27 to 49 combined energy). Clear skies though. Friday the 24th is more of the same rubbish.

Then from Saturday the 25th to Monday the 27th, we get some clean conditions thanks to a cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, but the swell stays tiny at 1ft to 1ft. The energy is still pitiful (15 to 66). The wind picks up strong on the 26th and 27th, hitting 19 mph from the NNW in the afternoons. This is clean for a wave, but there's nothing to ride.

Finally, we see a change. Tuesday the 28th of July morning brings a pulse of NNW swell to 3ft with the energy climbing to 154 – that's moderate, surfable but ordinary. But the afternoon is where it gets interesting. The swell builds to 5ft from the NW, with a short 7-second period and energy jumping to 330. The wind is a clean cross-off from the NNW. For a river break like this, that's a funky combo.

Wednesday the 29th of July is a real gem. Morning brings 4ft of NW swell with a 10-second period, glassy conditions, and energy at 367. Afternoon turns it up a notch: 5ft NW, same 10-second period, but energy hits 544 – that's solid moderate to strong. Clean cross-off wind. This is shaping up as a standout window.

Thursday the 30th of July morning sees the swell holding at 6ft from the NW (10-second period) with strong energy at 625. The wind is a light cross-off from the NNE. This is getting big; at 6ft it's pushing intermediate territory. The afternoon gets a bit marginal with a 7ft NW swell and the wind picks up to 12 mph from the NNW (energy 649).

Friday the 31st of July morning is glassy with a 5ft NNW swell (short 7-second period, energy 297). The afternoon is bigger at 7ft NW but the wind cranks up to 16 mph from the NNW, which makes for a messy, marginal setup.

Now, rolling into August, Saturday the 1st of August morning is the standout for the whole run. We've got 6ft of NW swell with a solid 10-second period, energy at 710 – that's strong. The wind is light from the east, cross-off, making for clean waves. This is the one to circle. The afternoon gets bigger to 7ft NW (energy 769) but the wind picks up a touch from the NNW, making it more marginal.

Sunday the 2nd of August is another beauty. Morning is glassy with 6ft from the NNW (10-second period) and strong energy at 553. Afternoon stays clean, 6ft from the NW (9-second period) with a light cross-off breeze, energy at 513.

Monday the 3rd of August looks like the window closes. The swell drops to 5ft NW, but the wind swings south and cross-on at 9 mph, making for poor, choppy conditions (energy at 427).

So, the best of the best is hands down Saturday the 1st of August morning. It's got the size (6ft), the direction (NW, which is spot on for Carreiro), long period (10-seconds), and clean glassy wind. It's a sure bet for a fun session. The other real standout is Wednesday the 29th of July afternoon – 5ft NW, clean cross-off, and great energy.

Crowds at Playa do Carreiro can sometimes be a thing, so on the best days expect company. For the river mouth setup, a longer-period NW swell (10 seconds plus) should wrap in nicely.

As always, keep an eye on the forecast as we get closer, but for now, that's the story.

Rusty.

Read more