Praia do Norte Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s look at what’s cooking for Praia do Norte.

Right off the bat, the next week and a half is a bit of a dud. We’ve got a long stretch from Tuesday the 14th all the way through to the 23rd of July where the surf is just not worth paddling out for. The swell is tiny, mostly under 3ft, and the wind is messy – cross-onshore or just onshore – making everything choppy and weak. The energy is pitiful, with readings barely cracking 100 (66). It’s a real bummer for a spot that’s usually a beast.

The water is sitting at 64°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you’ll want a good suit.

The first real sniff of something interesting shows up on Thursday the 23rd morning. We start seeing waves around 4ft from the WNW, with a period around 8 seconds. The energy picks up to 209 (moderate). It’s still a bit cross-shore, but it’s a start. By Friday the 24th morning, things get a little more serious with 4ft at 12 seconds – that’s a proper groundswell – and energy jumping to 558 (strong). The wind is just cross-shore, so it’s not clean, but the power is there.

The standout window, and the only time I’d get really excited, is Saturday the 25th morning. That’s the pick of the whole forecast. The swell is 7ft from the NW, with a 12-second period (very long period groundswell). The energy is pumping at 1188 (very strong). Now, the wind is a cross-shore from the N at 16 mph, so it’s not glassy. But for a big wave spot like Praia do Norte, that’s still rideable. This is a serious, expert-only session. The swell direction (NW) is a perfect match for the optimum W direction. The crowd situation here is rare, so you’ll have it mostly to yourself. Just remember, that long period will make the sets a bit more organized and powerful, but it can also make the waves break a little straight at the take-off. It’s a reef break, so it should handle it well.

After that, Sunday the 26th drops off in size, and the wind goes more cross-onshore again. There’s another pulse of 7ft to 8ft on Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th, but the wind is a solid 12-16 mph cross-on or cross-shore, making it look messy. The energy is still strong (over 700), but the quality just isn’t there for a clean paddle session. If you’re a kitesurfer, those days with big swell and strong cross-onshore wind might look like a playground, but for a regular surfer, it’s a pass.

So, bottom line: the first week is a write-off. Wait for that Saturday the 25th morning shot. It’s the only true standout.

Rusty.

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