Playa do Carreiro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what we've got for Playa do Carreiro over the next couple of weeks. It's a bit of a mixed bag, so let's break it down.

Right off the bat, the first few days are a bit of a write-off. The water's a touch warmer than usual for the time of year at 69°F. We start on Wednesday the 12th with a small 4ft west swell at 10 seconds. Not much energy in it (233), and a cross-shore wind is putting a slight chop on it. It's not looking good for that afternoon. The rest of the week stays messy. Thursday the 13th morning is the first real chance to get wet with a clean 4ft swell, cross-offshore wind, and moderate wave energy (251). That morning window is the pick of the early days, but it's not a standout. By Friday the 14th, the wind kicks up hard and the swell jumps to 5ft but it's raw and junky; we see a jump in energy (412) but the conditions are poor. The weekend is straight-up blown out with wind from the north, with waves building to 7ft on Saturday but getting battered by a 22 mph wind. The energy is high (437), but you don't want to be out there. Sunday the 16th morning offers a slight reprieve: a clean 5ft swell from the NNW with a light offshore wind and a moderate combined energy of 273. It’s surfable, but far from the best.

After that, we hit a lull. Monday and Tuesday (17th & 18th) have small, weak swell (under 4ft and energy dropping to 57-152) with clean conditions, but the waves are gutless. A swell period of 5 seconds on Tuesday morning tells you all you need to know. The rest of that week is essentially flat or onshore junk. We hit a proper dry spell from the afternoon of the 18th all the way through the weekend. There's nothing worth paddling out for.

Then we look to the second week, and things get more interesting. There are a few stronger pulses forecast. And here's the standout: the morning of Wednesday the 26th of August. This is the one to circle on your calendar. It's a two-week forecast, so lock it in but don't set your watch by it yet. We’ve got a 6ft northwest groundswell with a proper 10-second period, so there’ll be real push and shape. The combined energy is solid at 546. The wind is glassy—dead calm—making for absolutely perfect, clean conditions. That's a rare window. The swell angle from the NW is a touch north of the optimum WNW, but with that glassy morning and decent size, it’s your best shot at something special. Just be aware that at 6ft, this spot could get a touch punchy for beginners.

The morning of Tuesday the 25th is also worth a look. You’ve got a 6ft WNW swell with a clean 8-second period and a light offshore breeze. The energy is good (362). It’s a solid prelude to the Wednesday session, but the Wednesday glass-off is the true highlight.

Later in the day on Wednesday the 26th, the wind swings onshore and messes it up. Thursday the 27th morning still has a nice 4ft NW groundswell with clean cross-offshore wind and moderate energy (302), so you can still get some fun waves if you missed the morning before.

Keep an eye on the 25th-27th span. Everything else is windblown, flat, or just plain ordinary. This is a spot that can pump, but it needs everything to line up.

- Rusty

Read more