Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let's take a look at what's on the table for Praia Cardoso over the next couple of weeks.

This spot is showing some solid potential, but you'll need to pick your moments. The water is sitting at a pretty comfortable 66°F right now, which is about average for this time of year.

The first decent window of surf kicks off on Tuesday, August 11th, but it comes with a catch. Tuesday morning has a 8ft S swell with a 12-second period, but the wind is a light cross-shore from the WSW. The wave energy is strong (1494), but the conditions are described as marginal. Tuesday afternoon looks similar, but with the wind swinging around to the east. It's surfable, but not clean.

Wednesday the 12th sees a cleaner look. The wind swings to a cross-offshore from the NNE, which will tidy things up nicely. You've got a solid 7ft - 7ft S swell, with a 12-second period. Wave energy is still in that strong range (1346-1160). This is a step in the right direction if you want some reasonably clean lines.

Thursday the 13th is a write-off. The wind turns cross-onshore, chopping up that 7ft - 8ft S swell. The energy is high (1796-2012), but the quality is bad. Heavy rain and choppy conditions make it a day to stay on the beach.

Now, Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th are where it starts to get interesting. Friday morning brings a very clean look. Light cross-offshore winds from the NE and a 6ft S swell with a 13-second period. Wave energy is still strong (1268). This is a good call for experienced surfers. Saturday morning keeps the same vibe with some clouds and a light cross-offshore wind. The swell is 6ft from the ESE with a short 8-second period. It’s clean, but the period is short, so the wave shape might be a bit crumbly.

The bottom drops out completely from Sunday, August 16th, all the way through to Saturday, August 22nd. This is a long flat spell. The swell drops to under 3ft and the energy levels plummet into the double digits. The wind is mostly offshore or cross, but there's no swell to push it. If you're looking for a paddle, you're out of luck.

However, things start to wake up again on Sunday, August 23rd. The morning is a standout moment. The wind goes glassy from the south, with a clean 5ft S swell and a 9-second period. Wave energy is moderate (340). This is a very clean, glassy session, perfect for all levels.

The real fireworks are reserved for the end of the run. Monday, August 24th afternoon is top-shelf material. Glassy conditions with a 8ft S swell and a very long 14-second period. Wave energy is very strong (1894). That’s a groundswell, so it’ll have plenty of push and shape, especially on the takeoff. The caveat with a long period and a S direction is that if Praia Cardoso is a beach break, it might close out a bit, but the glassy wind makes up for it. This is for experienced surfers as it's over 5ft.

Then Tuesday, August 25th morning is, on paper, the biggest swell of the entire period. A 10ft S swell with a 15-second period (very long period). Wave energy is extreme (4041). The wind is a light cross-offshore from the NE. The file says the swell is predicted to be too big for this break. At over 8ft, this is strictly for experts only, and honestly, with that power, it might be a washing machine. Tuesday afternoon drops to a still-big 8ft, which is still expert territory.

Wednesday the 26th morning offers one more clean option with a 8ft SSE groundswell (13-second period) and a gentle cross-offshore wind. Again, expert level.

So, to sum it up for a surfer’s perspective: don't bother with the first few days or that huge flat spell in the middle. The two true standout sessions for clean, quality surf are the glassy Sunday morning on August 23rd and the glassy Monday afternoon on August 24th. The 24th afternoon is the pick of the entire forecast. The late big swell on the 25th is there if you're a charger, but it's a beast.

Rusty.

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