Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Imperial Version

Alright, strap in because this forecast is a bit of a rollercoaster. We’ve got a serious pulse of swell rolling in, but it’s not going to be an easy week for everyone. The main event is a heavy, powerful S swell that’s going to be way too big for the average punter. We’re talking about a focused window of solid, long-period groundswell that’s packing a tonne of energy. The water temp is sitting right at 65°F, which is dead average for this time of year, so no surprises there.

The first real call of the period is on Monday the 24th of August. Praia Cardoso will be absolutely hammered by a massive 10ft swell from the S with a long 14-second period. The combined energy reading is a whopping 3676, which is very strong. The morning has a cross-offshore wind, but honestly, at that size, with that much power, this is strictly for the big-wave crew. The wind and tide are favorable, but the wave comment says it best: this is too big for this break. Beginners, stay well away. The afternoon drops a bit to 8ft, but the wind swings cross-on and it gets choppy. Not great.

Now, if you’re an experienced surfer, keep your eyes on Tuesday the 25th of August. The swell drops to a much more manageable 7ft from the S, still a solid 12-second period. The combined energy is a moderate 1290. The morning has a light N wind, making it cross-offshore and clean. This is the standout window for the experienced crew. The afternoon is a bit smaller at 6ft, but the wind picks up to 15 mph, even if it’s offshore, it’ll be a bit lumpy. The morning is the pick.

Wednesday the 26th of August still has some size, with a 8ft swell from the SSE, but the wind is a problem. It’s offshore, but a stiff 22 mph NE breeze in the afternoon is going to make it tricky. The energy is still strong (2480-2493), but the quality is marginal. The swell is also very long-period (15 seconds), which means it might be a bit too straight for a beach break, so look for a point or a reef if you can find one.

After that, the swell crashes hard. From Thursday the 27th onwards, the size drops off a cliff. We go from 5ft down to a dribble. By Friday the 28th of August, we’re looking at piddly 2ft to 2ft waves with weak energy. The end of the first week and the start of the second week are essentially a flat spell. There’s a brief window of glassy conditions on the Friday afternoon and Saturday the 29th, but with only 0.7ft to 2ft of swell, it’s barely surfable. You’d be better off finding a pool.

The second week, from the 30th of August right through to the 7th of September, is a wasteland. We’re talking days of poor surf, small swell, and onshore winds. There’s a little bump of 4ft on the 1st of September, but it’s a messy, short-period windswell with strong onshore winds. It’s basically a write-off for paddling; the setup is more interesting for a kite surfer.

Then, just when you think it’s over, there’s a late flash on Monday the 8th of September. A big, long-period SSE swell (7ft to 8ft, 15-16 seconds) shows up with strong energy readings (1931-2386). The wind is light, but it’s cross-on, so it’s not clean. This is a promising but uncertain long-range signal. The size is going to be big, but the quality is questionable. It’s more than a week away, so keep an eye on it, but don’t book the trip yet.

Truth is, the only real standout in this whole 16-day window is the Tuesday morning, 25th of August. Get on it if you're experienced. The rest of the time, it’s a waiting game.

Rusty.

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