Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get into it. It’s Rusty checkin’ in from the coast, and I’ve gotta be straight with you—this Praia-Cardoso forecast is a real mixed bag. We’ve got a solid week of waiting ahead before the ocean really wakes up, so grab a coffee, check your fins, and hang tight for the good stuff.

Starting off, the water here is sitting at 67°F, which is a touch warmer than normal for this time of year. That’s a nice little bonus for your skin, but don’t let it fool you—the surf is rough. Friday, August 7th, is a no-go. We’ve got a 4.6ft SSW swell with a short, weak 6-second period, and a fresh cross-onshore wind from the SSW at 30 km/h. The combined energy is only 137, so it’s flat and messy. By Friday afternoon, the swell pushes to 7.9ft, energy jumps to 657, but it’s still cross-on and lumpy. Not worth paddling out.

Saturday, August 8th, things start to turn. The swell drops to 7.5ft from the S with a long 14-second period, and the wind swings to a cross-off from the NNE at 35 km/h in the morning. The energy jumps big to 1922, and the surf is clean. In the afternoon, it’s still clean with a 7.2ft S swell at 13 seconds and 1704 energy. But the forecast says it’s marginal, so check the tides before you go. That 7.5ft is beefy—it’s not beginner territory, but for the experienced crew, it’s looking promising.

Sunday and Monday are a step back. Sunday, August 9th, has a 4.6ft S swell in the morning, cross-on wind from the SSW, and choppy conditions. The energy drops to 1043. By afternoon, it’s 7.2ft but still cross-on and choppy. Monday, August 10th, is similar—6.9ft to 7.2ft S swell, cross-on wind, and moderate chop. The energy sits around 1269 to 1347. Not the best, but keep an eye on it.

Now, here’s the standout: Tuesday, August 11th. This is the day to circle on your calendar. Morning brings a 6.9ft S swell with a 12-second period, but the wind goes light cross-off from the WNW at just 5 km/h. The energy is 1186, solid. By afternoon, it goes glassy—wind from the NNW at 5 km/h, with a 7.2ft S swell, 12-second period, and 1378 energy. The surf is clean and excellent for experienced surfers. That 7.2ft is a bit much for beginners, but if you’re comfortable in overhead waves, this is your window. The swell direction from the S matches the optimum direction for this spot, so it’s got good shape.

Wednesday, August 12th, is also clean. Morning has a 6.6ft S swell with a 12-second period, cross-off from the NE at 15 km/h, and 1160 energy. Afternoon drops to 5.9ft, still clean, but the energy falls to 911. It’s marginal, but still a solid option for experienced surfers.

Thursday, August 13th, morning has a smaller 4.6ft S swell, but the afternoon brings a 6.2ft swell with a very long 16-second period from the S, and energy jumps to 1743. That long period is groundswell—it’ll have plenty of push, but it might break a bit too straight at a beach break like Praia-Cardoso. Still, the wind is light and cross-off from the NNE, so it’s clean. Worth a look.

Friday, August 14th, through Sunday, August 23rd, things get more inconsistent. The swell hangs around 6.2ft to 6.6ft for a couple days, but the wind goes cross-shore or cross-on, and the energy starts to drop. Saturday, August 15th, has a 6.6ft SSE swell in the morning, but by afternoon it’s back to 4.3ft. Sunday, August 16th, the swell fades to 3.0ft, and from Monday, August 17th, onward, it’s mostly small and poor—2.3ft to 4.3ft, with weak energy and onshore winds. There’s a gap of several days with no real recommendations.

But don’t give up hope. Wednesday, August 19th, is a late sleeper hit. Morning brings a clean 7.2ft swell from the SSW, with a light cross-off wind from the west at 10 km/h. The energy is 1195

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