Praia da Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G'day, I'm Rusty. Let’s have a look at what’s shaping up for Praia da Barra over the next couple of weeks. It’s a bit of a slow start, but there’s something special brewing for the end of the run.

Right now, we’re in a quiet patch. The first real chance to get wet isn’t until the Saturday afternoon, but the surf is tiny and the wind is a mess, so you can give that a miss. Things are pretty flat and unremarkable through the first few days.

The first flicker of hope comes on Sunday the 13th. The morning is looking magic with clean, glassy conditions and a nice little 4ft groundswell from the NW, with a long 12-second period. The energy is moderate (486), and that offshore breeze from the east will keep the faces clean. This is the first standout, but the spot is inconsistent and rarely breaks, so you need to be there when it does. The water temp is about 66°F, which is pretty average for this time of year.

Monday the 14th morning is also worth a look – glassy again with a smaller but still fun 3ft NW groundswell (264 combined energy). The wind is light out of the south, so it should be clean. But after that, the wind turns ugly and the swell mixes up, so the rest of the week is mostly a write-off for quality waves.

We get a big pulse of raw power mid-week, but it comes with nasty wind. The Wednesday the 16th morning has a solid 10ft swell from the NNW, but it’s short-period (8 seconds) and the cross-wind will make it a lumpy, choppy mess. This is too big for beginners and, with that wind, it’s only going to appeal to the most hardcore crew or kiters. The combined swell energy is strong (1108), but the quality just isn’t there for a good paddle session.

The real gold is sitting way out at the end of the forecast. Monday the 21st of September and Tuesday the 22nd of September mornings are the absolute standouts. We’re looking at a pumping 7ft to 8ft groundswell from the NW, with a very long 13- to 14-second period. The energy is very strong (1875 to 1892). The wind is light and offshore (ENE and E), which will groom those waves to perfection. This is excellent surf for experienced surfers – it’s too big for beginners. The long period means it might wall up a bit on the beach, but with clean conditions and that power, it’s going to be worth the paddle. Crowds are *sometimes* an issue here, so you might have some company for the best sets.

Wednesday the 23rd of September morning should also deliver a fun, cleaner session as the swell drops to 5ft and the wind goes glassy with a light SE breeze. After that, the swell fades and the wind turns poor again, closing out the window.

So, to be blunt: don't bother with the first week. Wait for the morning of Sunday the 13th for a small, clean window, and mark your calendar for Monday and Tuesday the 21st and 22nd of September for the real deal. Long-range, but it looks promising.

Rusty.

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