Praia de Faro Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, grab a coffee and listen up. This is a tough one to call.

Right now, through the entire 16-day window, we’re looking at a flat spell that just won’t quit. The waves are tiny, the energy is weak, and honestly, it’s a bit of a bummer for anyone itching to paddle out. The first real suggestion of any surf doesn’t pop up until Tuesday the 8th of September, and even then, it’s a real struggle.

Let’s talk about the water for a second. Over at Praia de Faro, the water temperature is sitting at 67°F, which is a whopping 4°F colder than what’s normal for this time of year. That’s a pretty noticeable chill, so don’t forget a good spring suit if you’re heading out.

For the first week, from Monday the 31st of August right through to Monday the 7th of September, it’s a total write-off. We’re talking about knee-high dribble at best, with swell heights barely scraping 1 ft, and a combined swell energy that’s barely ticking over (27 to 23). The wind is mostly onshore or cross-onshore, making it a messy, blown-out mess. There are a few glassy mornings, but with nearly no swell, it’s just flat and pretty. Not worth the drive.

The only faint glimmer of hope comes on Tuesday the 8th of September in the morning. That’s when we see a tiny pulse of 1 ft swell from the WNW, with a period of 8 seconds, and the combined energy jumps to 41 – still very weak, but at least it’s something. The wind will be glassy, so it’ll be clean, but it’s still just surfable, not good. Any other morning that week, like Wednesday the 9th or Thursday the 10th, is just as flat or blown out.

Moving into the second week, from the 11th of September onward, the pattern doesn’t really change. There are a few mornings with light offshore winds from the NW or E, and the swell stays tiny, peaking at 2 ft in the afternoons of the 13th and 14th of September. Even then, the wind swings onshore by the afternoon, ruining the chance. The combined energy stays in the 20s to low 40s (9 to 43), which is just weak, weak, weak.

Honestly, the standout – if you can call it that – is Tuesday the 8th of September, first light. Praia de Faro is the only game in town, and it’s only for the absolute beginner or the die-hard who just needs to get wet. The swell is 1 ft from the WNW, and with glassy conditions, it’ll be clean. But this is a spot that’s exposed to the swell, and with the wind forecast to go onshore by the afternoon, you’ve got a tiny window. It’s a beginner-friendly wave, but don’t expect anything with any push.

There’s a gap of nearly 8 days of poor surf before that Tuesday the 8th, and then another stretch of underwhelming conditions after. This is a real dry spell, and for the Algarve, it’s not uncommon to see these blank runs in late summer. The forecasts can always change, and the next pulse might show up, but right now, I’d save the petrol money and wait for a better forecast.

Rusty.

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