Praia Cardoso Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here. Let’s break down what’s happening at Praia Cardoso for the next couple weeks.

The forecast is a real mixed bag. The first couple days have some surf, but the wind is going to chop it up fast. The real highlights are a sweet window late in the first week, and then another one near the very end.

Saturday, September 5th starts off looking alright. The morning is glassy with a clean 4ft swell out of the south, carrying moderate energy (271). That’s a nice, manageable size for a beginner spot. The water temp is about average for this time of year. But don’t plan on the afternoon; the wind swings onshore and it gets messy, with the swell bumping to 4ft and the energy climbing (303), but the chop kills it.

Sunday, September 6th is a total washout. We’ve got a strong cross-onshore wind at 25 mph, and the swell pumps up to 8ft in the morning and 10ft in the afternoon. That’s way too big for beginners, and the energy readings (828 and 1552) show the ocean has some serious power, but the wind will turn it into a washing machine. Not your day.

Monday, September 7th is still marginal. The swell holds around 6 to 6ft from the south-southeast, with the energy in the moderate to strong range (617 and 558), but the cross-shore and cross-onshore winds mean you’re dealing with some chop. Not a total loss if you’re desperate, but nothing to get excited about.

Tuesday, September 8th is a big step up. The morning brings a clean 4ft swell from the SSE (290 energy) with a light cross-offshore breeze. That’s a solid session for the learner crew. The afternoon is cleaner still, though the swell drops to 3ft and the wind picks up a bit. Still, a much better day than the weekend.

Wednesday, September 9th morning is the real standout of the first week. Glassy conditions with a light offshore wind from the NNW, and a clean 3ft south swell rolling in. The period stretches out to 12 seconds, which means some nice, lined-up groundswell energy (308). For this break, those long waits between sets will make paddling out a breeze. This is your call.

Thursday, September 10th and Friday, September 11th fade out quickly. The swell drops below 3ft and the energy levels fall away to 336 and then just 144. The winds are okay, but there simply isn’t enough push for a proper wave.

Saturday, September 12th through Monday, September 14th sees a massive ramp-up in swell, but it’s bad news. The wave heights hit 10ft to 12ft, and the energy readings explode into the thousands (817, 1750, 2365). That is way too big for a beginner spot. Even with decent tides and wind, this is expert territory, and the cross-shore winds will make it lumpy and treacherous. For the average surfer, this is a kite-surfing show, not a paddle session.

The second week looks more manageable but still tricky. From Tuesday, September 15th to Thursday, September 17th, you’ve got solid swell (5ft to 10ft) coming from the southeast, with some really long periods (13-14 seconds). The energy stays high (695 to 3126). The winds are mostly clean (cross-offshore), but be careful: those long-period groundswells can make beach breaks close out and go straight. This spot might not handle that kind of energy perfectly, so keep your expectations in check. Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning are the most promising, but they are still rated as marginal.

The final window is Friday, September 18th morning. This is your other standout. You’ve got a 5ft south swell (12 seconds period) with glassy conditions and a light offshore breeze. The energy is solid at 1063, and it’s rated excellent for experienced surfers. That’s a clean, powerful wave. If you can handle the size, this is the session to chase. The next morning, Saturday, September 19th, is also good with a clean 3ft from the south, perfect for a wider range of ability.

The last day, Sunday, September 20th, fades back to small and weak, with only 2ft and very low energy (157). The run is over.

So, to sum it up: focus on Wednesday, September 9th morning for the best clean, small-wave session, and Friday, September 18th morning for the bigger, more powerful ride. Everything in between is either too messy, too big, or too flat.

Rusty.

Read more