Praia da Barra Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get real about Praia da Barra. Look, I’ve been staring at this forecast and it’s a tough one for the next two weeks. The whole outlook is a bit of a bummer, to be honest. For the first couple of weeks, we’re looking at a run of tiny, weak, and mostly messy conditions. The swell is small, the energy is low, and when there is a bit of action, the wind tends to mess it up. There’s a long, dry gap from the start all the way through to the morning of Monday, July 27, where we finally see something that’s even worth calling surfable, but even then it’s nothing special.

Let’s start from the top. From Monday, July 13 right through to the end of the week, there’s basically nothing. The swell is tiny, around 1 ft to 2 ft, with weak energy (readings between 18 and 79). The wind is mostly onshore or cross-shore, so it’s choppy. The odd morning like Tuesday, July 14 and Wednesday, July 15 goes glassy, but with only 1 ft and 2 ft of swell, it’s just not enough to push you around. Praia da Barra is a sandbar, and it rarely breaks, so this flat spell is pretty normal for the area.

The weekend of July 18 and 19 brings a slight bump in swell height, around 3 ft to 3 ft, but the period is short (5-6 seconds) and the energy is still weak (50-90). The wind is messy, so it’s still a no-go. The whole next week looks very similar, with small waves and poor conditions. The water temp is sitting at 64°, which is about normal for this time of year.

The first real sign of life shows up on the morning of Monday, July 27. The swell picks up to 5 ft, with a period of 6 seconds, and the energy climbs to 160. The wind is glassy – that’s a major positive. The report says “surfable waves but very ordinary conditions,” which is the best we’ve seen. It’s still not a standout, but it’s the best on offer in a long, dry spell. The water is still about average temperature.

Now, the one true standout in this whole 16-day window is the morning of Tuesday, July 28. We’ve got a 6 ft swell from the NNW, with a period of 8 seconds and a combined energy of 474 – that’s moderate wave energy. The wind is glassy, which will make for clean, fun waves. The report says “expect good surf conditions.” This is the pick of the bunch. It’s a bit of a wait, but that morning at Praia da Barra should finally offer some proper waves. The afternoon gets messy again with onshore wind, so get it early.

The swell direction is NW, which aligns with the spot’s optimum swell direction from the west. The 6 ft height is manageable for a wide range of surfers, but over 5 ft, it could be a bit much for beginners. The 8-second period is average, so the shape won’t be world-class, but it’s a solid step up from the flat spell. Crowds are possible here, so keep an eye out.

So, to wrap it up: the first two weeks are a write-off for quality surfing. The best bet is to pencil in the morning of Tuesday, July 28 for a session. The forecast is a week out, so it’s not super nailed down, but it’s the best chance we’ve got. The morning of Monday, July 27 is a backup option, but don’t expect fireworks.

Rusty.

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