Ponta Negra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab your board and let’s talk about the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a strange run, to be honest. There’s waves on the way, but for the first stretch, they’re going to be messy, with the wind all over the shop. We’re looking at a cross-on breeze for most of the coming days, which is going to chop things up and make it hard work. The swell is coming from the ESE, which is okay, but it’s a bit short-period, so it won't have that punch you want.

First up, Ponta Negra. The water’s sitting at a warm 81°, which is pretty much average for this time of year, so no surprises there. The swell starts off around 4ft and it’s got that junky, short-period feel to it. The combined energy is on the low side, around 215 early on, and it doesn’t get much better for the first several days. The wind is a constant cross-on, from the SE, at 12-16 mph. It’s not clean, it’s not powerful. This setup looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer, to be honest. The conditions are just poor.

We're looking at a real gap here. From the 14th through to the 22nd, there’s nothing that’s going to get you excited. The swell stays in the 4ft to 6ft range, but the period is stuck around 6-8 seconds and that cross-on breeze just won't let up. It's going to be a frustrating week. The energy is always in the low to mid 200s, which tells you it's weak and unorganized.

Then, around the 23rd of September, something shifts. The period jumps up to 11 seconds and you can feel the extra push in the water. The combined energy kicks way up to 532 and 543. That’s a proper bump of energy. Swell heights are still around 5ft, but that longer period means it’s got so much more shape and power behind it. For a beach break, a long-period swell like this can break a bit straight, but it’s still a massive step up. The wind, though, is still cross-on at 12 mph. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best we’ve seen. The following day, the 24th, is even better for wind – it drops to a gentle breeze, 9 mph, and is more onshore. It’s still not glassy, but it’s a heap cleaner. The swell drops to 4ft but the period is still long.

After that, we’re back to shorter period, smaller waves. The 25th and 26th have a bit of size, 4ft, but the period drops back to 6-10 seconds. The energy levels are moderate, but it's a step back from that 23rd and 24th.

To be straight with you, the standout is the 23rd and 24th. The 23rd has that raw power with the 11 second period and high energy. The 24th has cleaner conditions, with lighter wind. That's the pick of the run. It’s a far cry from classic, but after a week of junk, it’s a real glimmer of hope.

Rusty

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