Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here with a long look at the surf for Praia Cardoso. Let’s be honest, the next 16 days are a bit of a mixed bag and we’ve got to be patient. The real action is a long way off, so keep your expectations in check for the first week.

We’re starting off with a proper flat spell. Monday the 3rd is a complete write-off, with some tiny 0.7ft swell from the south and a cross-offshore breeze. You’d be better off fixing your dings. The seas are calm, but there’s nothing to ride. The energy is super weak (25) and the same goes for the afternoon. Tuesday the 4th is where things start to look a little more hopeful. We’ve got a 4ft south swell rolling in, period around 12 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to a solid moderate (410). The wind is light and cross-offshore, so it’ll be clean. Not a standout, but a fun little window for a beginner-friendly wave. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so no need for a thick wetsuit.

Wednesday the 5th drops off a bit, with 3ft from the SSE and glassy conditions in the morning. The energy is down to 179, and the waves are just ordinary. Thursday the 6th is even smaller, with 2ft and a weak 66 energy. The wind is offshore, but it’s a bit rainy. By Friday the 7th, we’re back to flat, lumpy conditions with almost no energy (28). So, the first week is a real struggle, with a few scraps of surf on Tuesday and Wednesday but nothing to write home about.

Now, the second week is where the real energy shows up, but it comes with a massive caveat. Starting Saturday the 10th, we see a 5ft south swell (period 11 seconds) and a strong 615 energy, but the wind is a moderate cross-offshore. The wave comment says "marginal," so it’s not firing. Sunday the 11th gets a bit wild with a 6ft south swell, but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-onshore, making it lumpy. The energy is very strong (1279), but the quality is poor. For experienced surfers, there might be a few heavy sections, but beginners should stay well clear as it’s way over 5ft.

The standout period, and I mean the *only* true standout, looks like Wednesday the 12th and Thursday the 13th. On the 12th, we’ve got a 10ft swell from the SSW with a 11-second period and a massive 3207 energy, but the wind is light and cross-offshore. This is the one. The setup is 10ft, which is well over 8ft, so this is strictly for experts only. The swell direction is a touch south of the optimum, but the light wind and clean conditions will make for some serious, heavy waves. The period is just over 11 seconds, so it’s a proper groundswell, which can make it a bit too straight at the beach break, but the power will be there.

The standout is Praia Cardoso itself on Wednesday the 12th. The swell is 10ft from the SSW, with a light cross-offshore wind. It’s a beast of a day, but it’s not for the faint of heart. This is a big swell for the area, and the energy is through the roof. The crowd profile is "sometimes," so you might have a few others out there, but with this size, it’ll thin out.

Thursday the 13th is still good, with a 6ft south swell and 741 energy, and the wind is light and cross-off. It’s a more manageable size, but still a solid wave. After that, the swell slowly fades through the weekend, with a 5ft on the 15th and 16th, but the wind gets messy. The 16th has an 8ft east swell, which is a weird direction for this spot, and the period is short (8 seconds), so it’ll be lumpy and choppy.

So, to sum it up: the first week is flat to small. The second week has a massive, expert-only swell on Wednesday the 12th. That’s the one to circle on the calendar. The rest of the second week is a step down in size but still offers some fun, clean waves for the experienced crew. Keep your eyes on the forecast, as things can change, but right now, Wednesday the 12th is the real deal.

Stay stoked,
Rusty

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