Porto Batel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right, let’s have a look at what Porto Batel has got cooking over the next couple of weeks. It’s a point break, exposed to the west swell, and it’s fairly consistent here, so we’ve got something to work with. The water’s sitting at 65°, which is a good four degrees colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll be wanting a decent steamer if you’re paddling out at the start.

First up, it’s a bit of a write-off the opening few days. Sunday the 23rd and into Monday the 24th, we’ve got onshore winds and poor conditions. That’s 19 to 22 mph winds from the SSE and SW, making a mess of the 5 ft to 8 ft swell. The combined energy is moderate (738, 687, 683), but it’s just lumpy and choppy. Not worth your time.

The first sign of life comes on Tuesday the 25th morning. The wind switches to a glassy WSW breeze at just 3 mph. The swell is small, 4 ft from the west with a short period of 7 seconds, so it’s not packing much punch (combined energy only 163). But it’s glassy, so it’s surfable, just very ordinary. The afternoon gets a bit of cross-on wind again, so not much improvement.

Wednesday the 26th is a write-off with rain showers and cross-on wind, dropping the swell to 3 ft and 66 energy. Thursday the 27th stays poor with moderate cross-onshore winds.

Now, Friday the 28th is where it starts to get interesting. The morning brings a clean 8 ft swell from the NW with a 11-second period – that’s proper groundswell energy. Combined energy jumps to 1542, a strong push of waves. The wind is light, cross-shore but with small ripples. The afternoon cleans right up with a gentle cross-offshore breeze from the NNW, and the swell stays at 8 ft with a 12-second period and energy of 1871. This is the standout of the early run. It’s a big one though – over 8 ft, so only for experienced surfers. A long period point break wave like Porto Batel that likes a decent swell from the west? This is lining up. It’s going to be a proper session for the crew who can handle it.

Saturday the 29th morning is still clean with a light cross-offshore and a dropping 6 ft swell from the NNW at 10 seconds. Still solid, but losing a bit of power. The afternoon gets a bit cross-shore, so the morning is the pick of that day.

Sunday the 30th through to Tuesday September 2nd drops right off. The swell fades from 4 ft down to 2 ft. It’s clean but weak (energy down to 159). Just small, gutless waves for a log or a longboard.

Wednesday 3rd and Thursday 4th September are small, clean but weak, with 4 ft maximum from the NNW, but the period is short (6 to 7 seconds) and energy low (174, 143). Not much to get excited about.

Then here comes the real standout of the whole window. Saturday 5th September morning has 6 ft from the NNW with an offshore breeze from the NE, light. Clean. The swell period is still short at 8 seconds, but the combined energy is a solid 308, moderate. This is a good, clean day for an intermediate surf.

Sunday 6th September morning builds up to 8 ft from the NNW with an 8-second period and strong energy (850). Clean offshore wind from the north. This is looking good but getting bigger. The afternoon keeps the size at 8 ft (969 energy) with clean wind.

Monday 7th September is the biggest and most powerful day. Morning sees 8 ft from the NNW with a very long 12-second period. Combined energy is massive at 2262. The wind is a fresh 19 mph from the north, cross-offshore. This is for experts only – that’s a heavy, long-period groundswell that will be powerful and organised. The afternoon holds at 7 ft and 12 seconds, energy 1971, with a slightly stronger 22 mph cross-offshore. It’s going to be big and clean, but you better know what you’re doing.

So, to wrap it up: the best on offer is Friday 28th morning and afternoon for a big, proper groundswell day. Then keep an eye on Saturday 5th September morning for a cleaner, more manageable size, and Sunday 6th and Monday 7th for the big end-of-window push. Crowds are sometimes a thing here, so on those bigger days, expect a few locals out.

Rusty.

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