Playa do Carreiro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Playa do Carreiro over the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, it’s a tough run ahead. The forecast is pretty flat and the wind is mostly junk. We’re looking at a solid 16-day window but the first week is a write-off. From Sunday the 12th right through to Wednesday the 16th, the surf is poor with cross-on winds and tiny, weak waves. The combined swell energy is barely a whisper – mostly under 100 (125 best Sunday morning, but with a messy 16 mph cross-on). You’d be fighting a losing battle out there.

The water at Playa do Carreiro is sitting at 62°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year – about 3° off. So you’ll want a good wetsuit if you’re even thinking about it.

Thursday the 16th morning is the first flicker of hope. The wind finally swings to a light cross-offshore from the NNW, cleaning things up. The swell is tiny though – only 2 ft from the west with a 9-second period, and the energy is weak at 60. It’s surfable, but it’s very ordinary. Not worth a special trip.

After that, we’re back into a long, flat spell. From Friday the 17th right through to Tuesday the 22nd, the waves are mostly under 2 ft, with light winds or glassy conditions at times, but there’s just no power behind them. The combined energy drops to as low as 12 and 13. It’s pretty disheartening.

Now, here’s the one standout in the whole outlook. Wednesday the 22nd morning. The wind goes glassy, dead calm, and we get a little pulse of 3 ft swell from the NW with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 117 – moderate energy, finally. It’s not huge, but clean conditions on a river mouth like this could give you a few fun little wedges. That’s the best on offer, no question.

The next notable moment is a week later, on Thursday the 24th afternoon. The swell bumps up to 5 ft from the NW, with a short 6-second period, and the energy hits 195. But it’s a cross-shore wind and the wave comment says poor conditions. That’s a messy, short-period windswell – not great for a point or river break like this, which needs a longer period to really line up. Might be more interesting for the kite crew than paddle surfing.

There’s a final flash on Monday the 27th with 4 ft from the WNW, an 8-second period, and 227 energy, but the wind is onshore and the call is “marginal.” It’s a step up in size, but the quality is questionable.

So, bottom line: if you’re desperate for a paddle, aim for the morning of Wednesday the 22nd. Glassy, clean, and a little bit of energy. The rest of the window is a whole lot of nothing much. It’s a long, quiet stretch, but it won’t stay this way forever – forecasts can change.

Rusty.

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