Porto Batel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get my head around this one. It's a proper mixed bag here at Porto Batel for the next couple of weeks.

Right now, the surf is fighting the wind. We’ve got some grunt in the water—moderate wave energy (303) on Saturday the 25th with a clean 6ft NW swell—but the 25 km/h cross-offshore wind is just too strong to make it any good. That same story carries through Sunday the 26th with a bit more size, hitting 7ft, but the wind is up to 31 km/h from the north, so it's an onshore mess. You'd be fighting the breeze more than riding the waves, so I’d leave the stick at home for that first weekend.

The first real window of hope comes on Monday morning, July 27th. The wind drops right off to a glassy 5 km/h from the NE—that’s the kind of calm that gets a surfer stoked. The swell is a clean 5ft from the NNW, though the period is a short 7 seconds. It’s a bit fat and soft, but it’s surfable and the water is a touch warmer than normal at 70° (1° above average) for this time of year, so you won't need the full steamer. That’s the standout session for the first week, no doubt. Don't expect it to last though; the afternoon turns cross-onshore and the quality drops.

After that, we hit a long, quiet stretch. From Tuesday the 28th right through to Saturday August 2nd, it's a real desert. We’re looking at knee-to-waist high dribble most days, weak energy readings (mostly under 200), and forgettable conditions. The morning of July 29th has a tiny 3ft swell with light winds, but honestly, it’s barely a ripple. You’re looking at about 5 days of very ordinary to poor surf.

Then around Sunday, August 2nd, the charts start to wake up. The afternoon session that day shows a building 3ft NNW swell with a 10-second period generating moderate wave energy (201) and the wind is a light 15 km/h cross-offshore. It’s small but it’s clean and has a bit more push—a sneaky little session if you’re desperate.

The main event, and the one to circle on your calendar, is Monday, August 3rd. This is the real deal. The swell jumps to a solid 6ft from the NNW, and the energy reading spikes to 592, which is getting into strong territory. The period is a short 9 seconds though, so it’ll be a bit lumpy and sectiony. The wind is a cross-offshore 25 km/h from the north, keeping it clean for a point break like this. This is expert-only size—over 5ft, so it’s not for the groms or the weekend warriors. If you’ve got the chops, this is the best on offer.

Tuesday the 4th brings another dose of strong swell (7ft, energy 457) but the wind howls up to 31 km/h from the north, making it pretty messy. Wednesday the 5th is the biggest of the bunch with a 8ft NNW swell and an energy reading of 734—that’s serious power. But again, a strong 25 km/h cross-offshore wind makes it tricky. This is big, raw, and only for the well-equipped, experienced crew.

From Thursday the 6th onward, the swell slowly drops but the winds stay moderate cross-offshore, so it stays rideable but nothing special. The last couple of days of the forecast (August 8th and 9th) show the wind turning more cross-shore, creating chop, so the quality fades again.

So, here’s the bottom line: If you want the cleanest surf of the period, you get out there on Monday morning, July 27th. If you want power and size that’s worth the drive for the experienced surfer, your window is Monday, August 3rd. The rest? Lots of waiting.

Rusty.

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