Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s take a look at what’s in store for Praia Cardoso. Right off the bat, we’ve got a bit of a flat spell to get through. The first real chance of a wave doesn't show up until Thursday the 3rd, and even then, it’s pretty marginal. We’ll need to wait a while before anything decent lines up.

The opening window on Thursday morning the 3rd isn’t really worth getting excited about. We’ve got a 5 ft swell from the SE, but it’s a cross-off shore wind from the north that’s not doing us any favors. The wave energy is moderate (527), and the water is sitting at 64°, which is about average for this time of year. It’s a pass for me.

Friday through to the following Tuesday are a write-off. The wind is a mess, mostly cross-on, and the swell is small and weak. There’s a bump on Sunday the 6th with a 8 ft swell from the SSW, but that 15 mph cross-shore wind will chop it up. Not worth paddling out.

We finally get a glimmer of hope on Monday the 14th. The morning is looking promising with an 8 ft southerly swell, a light cross-off breeze from the north, and clean conditions. The wave energy is strong (939), and it’s the best we’ve seen in a while. This is a standout for the more experienced crew, as that wave height is getting into expert territory. The period is a short 8 seconds, so it’ll be a bit crumbly, but the clean conditions could make it fun.

Then, keep your eyes on Wednesday the 16th and Thursday the 17th. The pick of the whole forecast is Thursday morning the 17th. We’ve got a 5 ft groundswell from the south with a 12-second period, and the wind is dead glassy, offshore from the NW. That’s a recipe for clean, long lines. The energy is strong (643). This is the one to circle on the calendar.

The following day, Friday the 18th, has a solid 7 ft southerly swell with a long 15-second period and a light cross-off breeze. The energy is very strong (2178), and the conditions are described as excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a big call, but the period is long, so expect it to be a bit more powerful and walled up at the beach break, better suited for the points if there were any. For now, it’ll be a challenge for the experts.

So, the story is: a long, slow start, then a couple of really good days in the second week. The standout is clearly Thursday the 17th morning with that glassy, clean 5 ft swell. Monday the 14th morning is a solid second option for the bigger wave hunters.

Rusty.

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