Porto Batel Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s shaping up for Porto Batel over the next couple of weeks.

Honestly, it’s a slow start. We’ve got a long patch of nothing much to get excited about through the first week of August. The surf is small and the conditions are just ordinary. The wind is mostly cross-off or cross, which is okay, but the swell is tiny and weak. You’ll see the combined energy sitting around 70 to 206 (moderate) for the first few days, but the wave heights are barely 3 feet, and the period is short. It’s not really worth paddling out for.

The first real glimmer of hope comes on the morning of Thursday, August 6th. The swell bumps up to 6 feet from the NNW, with a 9-second period, and the combined energy jumps to 514 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-off from the north at 15 mph. Porto Batel is a point break, so it can handle that direction. It’s still a bit raw – the afternoon drops off to a 5 feet – but that morning session is the best we’ve seen so far. For a point break, a 6 foot swell is solid, but not too big for intermediates. It’s a good one to look at, but keep in mind the forecast is still a few days out.

The following morning, Friday the 7th, is similar. Another 6 feet from the NNW, but this time the period drops to a short 7 seconds. That’s a bit of a bummer – it’ll be a bit lumpy and less powerful. The combined energy is 337 (moderate). Not a standout, but it’s rideable.

The real standout, the one that’s worth marking on your calendar, is the morning of Friday, August 14th. We’ve got a solid 6 feet from the NNW, with an 8-second period, and the combined energy hits 448 (moderate). The wind is a clean cross-off from the north, 15 mph. This is the biggest and most consistent we’ll see during the whole run. For a point break like Porto Batel, that’s a proper swell. It’s not huge, but it’s got enough push. The morning is the window; the afternoon gets a bit messy with the same size but a poor surf rating. The 14th is a long way off, so treat it as promising but not locked in.

The rest of the run into the second week is a mixed bag. The 15th of August has 5 feet from the NNW, but the wind swings cross-shore, which will bring some chop. The 16th drops off quickly. And by the 17th and 18th, we’re back to tiny waves and strong winds. The wind hits 22 mph from the NNW on the 17th afternoon, which is too strong for a clean surf – that’s more of a kite-surfing breeze.

The water temperature is about average for the time of year, nothing unusual going on there.

So, to wrap it up: the best bet is the morning of Friday, August 14th. That’s the one to aim for. The morning of Thursday the 6th is a decent warm-up, but the 14th has the size and the clean wind. If you’re an intermediate, you’ll be fine. If you’re a beginner, the 6 feet might be a bit much, but it’s not a total washout. The crowds are sometimes an issue at Porto Batel, so expect a few others with the same idea on that day.

Rusty.

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