Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Praia Cardoso over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a wait. The first few days are a write-off, with Saturday the 22nd serving up messy, lumpy conditions with a solid 8ft SSW swell but a nasty cross-onshore wind at 19 mph. The combined energy is a meaty 1207, but it’s just ugly out there. That trend continues into Sunday morning the 23rd, with a 7ft S swell and a light cross-shore wind, but the forecast calls it marginal. The water is sitting at 66°, which is about average for this time of year.

Sunday afternoon the 23rd is where things get big. We’re looking at a 10ft S swell with a 12-second period, and a combined energy reading of 4775. That’s serious power. However, the call is that it’s too big for this break, so unless you’re a seasoned pro, you’ll want to sit this one out. The wind is a gentle cross-onshore, so it’s not clean either.

Monday the 24th keeps the size, with another 10ft S swell, this time with a longer 14-second period. The energy is 3978 in the morning and 3104 in the afternoon. The wind is light and cross-shore in the morning, going light and onshore in the afternoon. Again, the call is that it’s too big for the break.

Now, Tuesday the 25th is a glimmer of hope. The morning session is the standout of the whole window. The S swell has dropped to a more manageable 7ft, the period is a solid 12 seconds, and the wind is a clean offshore from the NW at just 3 mph. The combined energy is 1311. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – clean, powerful, and with that offshore wind holding it up. This is the one to get.

The afternoon on the 25th drops to 6ft with a cross-offshore wind picking up to 16 mph, which makes it marginal. Wednesday the 26th is a bit of a tease. There’s an 8ft SSE swell with a very long 15-second period, and the energy is 2620, but the wind is a strong cross-offshore at 16-22 mph, keeping it from being great. The long period means better shape, but it might be a bit straight for a beach break.

From Thursday the 27th onwards, we’re on a steady decline. The swell drops to 5ft, then 4ft, and by Friday the 28th, it’s down to 2ft. The wind is clean, but there’s just not enough juice. The energy drops to 117 and 109. The Friday afternoon session actually turns glassy, but with only 2ft of swell, it’s more of a longboard cruise than a proper surf.

The entire first week of September is a dry spell. From Saturday the 29th all the way through to Sunday the 6th, the swell is tiny, often under 3ft, and the energy is in the double digits. There are a few moments of clean wind, but the ocean is flat. A couple of days in early September show a 8ft SSW swell, but it’s accompanied by a strong cross-onshore wind, making it a choppy mess. The only flicker of life is on Thursday the 3rd of September, with a morning offshore wind and a 4ft SSE swell, but the period is a short 8 seconds, so it’s not going to be worth the paddle.

So, the bottom line: if you’re an experienced surfer, make Tuesday the 25th your target. That offshore morning is your best bet. The rest of the window is either too big, too small, or blown out. It’s a long wait for a short window, but that Tuesday morning is a beauty.

Rusty.

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