Porto Batel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what Porto Batel is cooking up over the next couple of weeks. It’s a slow start, so don’t go rushing to wax up just yet.

The beginning of the run is pretty ordinary. Through Tuesday the 25th, we’re looking at small, weak swell – around 4ft to 4ft from the WNW with a short period of just 7 seconds. The energy reading is weak (119–168) and the wind is all over the shop, onshore or cross-onshore. It’s a write-off. Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th aren’t much better. The swell bumps up a bit – hits 7ft on Thursday – but with howling cross-onshore winds at 18–19 mph, it’s going to be a choppy, lumpy mess. The energy reading climbs to moderate (464–512) but honestly, it’s not worth paddling out for.

Then we get a little glimmer. Friday morning the 28th is the standout. The wind swings around to a light NE breeze, going glassy, and we get a solid 8ft swell from the WNW with a long period of 11 seconds. That’s proper groundswell energy now – 1447 on the energy reading (strong). This is a wave for experienced surfers only; it’s going to be powerful and a bit too big for beginners. For the crew that can handle it, Porto Batel will be clean and offering some good lines. The water temp is about average for this time of year.

The afternoon on Friday drops off a bit to 7ft with a cross-offshore breeze, still clean but with less punch. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th see the swell fade fast, down to 4ft–5ft, and while the wind stays cross-off, the energy drops off into the weak to moderate range (157–373). It’s marginal at best.

There’s a long gap of pretty poor to mediocre surf from Sunday afternoon right through the end of the first week and into early September. The wind is a steady N’ly cross-off, 18–19 mph, which keeps things clean but the swell is small and weak. We get a brief pulse on Tuesday the 1st of September – 8ft from the NNW, 11 sec period, energy reading 1246 (strong) – but the fresh cross-off wind makes it tricky. It’s rated marginal.

Then things get quiet again until the real event shows up. Mark your calendars for Monday the 7th of September afternoon, when a very long-period groundswell (20 seconds!) rolls in from the WNW with 7ft of swell. The energy reading jumps to 3329 – that’s very strong. The wind is cross-off from the N at 15 mph, so it’ll be clean. This is a special swell, but with that kind of period, it might be a bit too straight for a beach break; it’ll likely be better at the point.

The big daddy arrives on Tuesday the 8th of September morning: 12ft from the NW at 14 seconds, with an energy reading of 5302. That is serious, powerful surf. Only for experts. The wind is a gentle cross-off, so it’ll be clean. The afternoon holds similar size at 12ft. The waves will be thick and demanding.

Wednesday the 9th of September morning still has a solid 8ft from the NNW, 9 seconds, energy at 1281. It’s still a good wave, but the swell is starting to ease. Overall, the real standout is that Friday morning the 28th for a clean, powerful session, and the early September swell – especially Tuesday the 8th – is the one for the experienced crew to dream on. It’s a long way out, so keep an eye on it, but it looks promising.

Rusty.

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