Santa Maria - Praia Formosa Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright crew, Rusty here. Let’s break it down.

The next couple of weeks at Santa Maria - Praia Formosa are looking more like a lake than the ocean. It’s a beach and reef setup, and for the first week and a half, we’re staring at a flat spell right through until the morning of the 14th of August. The swell is tiny, mostly under 2ft, and what little energy is there is getting shredded by onshore winds. The combined swell energy is weak, never cracking 100 until the 11th, and even then it’s marked as "poor surf conditions." The water temp is about average for the time of year.

Now, there’s a little ray of hope. On the morning of the 14th of August, we finally get a pulse. The swell is from the S at 1ft with a period of 13 seconds – that’s some clean offshore wind from the NE. The wind is moderate offshore, so the lines will be clean. The combined energy is a weak 55, so it won’t be big, but it’s rideable. The wind stays offshore or cross-off through the 15th and 16th, with the 16th seeing a touch more size at 2ft from the ENE, period of 7 seconds, and light offshore or cross-off winds. The combined energy hits 61 on the 16th afternoon – still small, but it’s the best we’ll get. Crowds are *sometimes* around here, so you might have the place to yourself on these small days.

The real standout is the 16th of August (Sunday). The morning has 2ft from the ENE with a gentle offshore wind, and the afternoon is near glassy with a light cross-off breeze. The combined energy is 61, which is the highest we see. It’s not a bombshell, but for a spot that’s been dead for a week, it’s the one to lock in. The 13-second period from the S on the 14th is a bit longer, but the ENE swell on the 16th has a better shot at wrapping in with the light wind.

After that, the 20th of August shows a long-period S swell (18 seconds) with a tiny 1ft height and a light breeze, giving a combined energy of 74. That’s a classic tease – long period and tiny height means it’ll be gutless, but if the sandbar is working, you might find a knee-high wave.

The bottom line: the first week is a total washout. The second week offers a few small, clean windows, especially the 16th. Don’t go expecting a surf trip, but if you’re desperate, that’s your best call.

Rusty.

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