Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 25 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 12s period, WNW swell with 1,660 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Praia das Macas this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Praia das Macas in the next 16 days are 2.5m 12s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 16s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the menu for the next couple of weeks at Praia das Macas.
Honestly, it's a tough stretch ahead. The first few days are a write-off. Tuesday the 25th through Thursday the 27th is just messy with onshore winds and weak, short-period windswell. The water is sittin' at 67°, which is a bit colder than normal for this time of year, so you'll want a decent spring suit.
We’ll see a bit of a pulse arrive on Friday morning the 28th. The swell is picking up to 8ft from the WNW, and the period stretches out to 11 seconds, giving it some real grunt. The combined energy is a solid 1474, which is strong. But the wind is a cross-shore N breeze at 12 mph, making it lumpy. The surf report calls it marginal, and honestly, with that size, it's pushing into expert territory if it's closing out. Not the cleanest, but it's the first real swell we've seen.
The pattern doesn't let up. Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th drop back down in size, but the wind stays on it, so it’s still choppy.
Now, here's the one that has my attention. It's a long way out, but Monday the 7th of September morning has a real beast showing up. We're looking at an 8ft groundswell from the NW, with a very long period of 12 seconds. The combined energy is a massive 1878 – that’s pumping. The wind is forecast to be a cross-shore N breeze at 19 mph, so it’ll be lumpy again. The report calls it marginal. At that size and period, it’s going to be a proper expert-only wave, likely closing out across the beach. It's a promise of power, but it’s a wild card.
Other than that, the rest of the outlook is a grind of onshore winds and messy conditions. The 8th of September has a similar setup but a touch smaller, and the 9th of September brings a choppy 7ft NW swell. There's a lot of energy in the water (the 8th has 1635 combined energy in the afternoon), but the wind is just ruining it.
So, for the standouts: if you're a confident expert, Friday the 28th of August is your first chance to get on something solid, but don't expect perfection. The real highlight, if the forecasts hold, is the morning of Monday the 7th of September. That's a big, powerful groundswell but it's a long way off and the wind is a big question mark. It's a gamble.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 12mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Fri morning). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | WSW 5 | W 7 | W 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
178 | 124 | 62 | 97 | 271 | 396 | 491 | 507 | 534 | 1474 | 1016 | 573 | 336 | 250 | 183 | 167 | 171 | 241 | 168 | 139 | 565 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:01PM2.49m | 2:23AM2.38m | 2:35PM2.67m | 2:55AM2.53m | 3:07PM2.82m | 3:27AM2.65m | 3:38PM2.93m | 3:58AM2.73m | 4:10PM2.98m | 4:29AM2.78m | 4:42PM2.96m | 5:02AM2.77m | 5:17PM2.89m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:17PM0.54m | 8:21AM0.53m | 8:49PM0.37m | 8:53AM0.37m | 9:20PM0.23m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:51PM0.13m | 9:56AM0.18m | 10:21PM0.08m | 10:29AM0.15m | 10:53PM0.10m | 11:03AM0.19m | 11:27PM0.17m | ||||||||
7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | 3 | — | 6 | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 6 | NNW 6 | W 7 | W 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | S 10 | — | NW 8 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NW 10 | SW 16 |
178 | 124 | 62 | 15 | 271 | 396 | 5 | 5 | 534 | 1474 | 1016 | 573 | 336 | 2 | — | 167 | 51 | 241 | 168 | 139 | 10 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | SW 12 | WNW 10 | NW 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | — | — | NNW 9 | — | — | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | W 13 | S 11 | S 10 | SW 18 | SW 16 | S 9 |
6 | 6 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 5 | — | — | 50 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 3 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 11 | 2 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | W 10 | SW 12 | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | S 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | S 12 | — | — | S 10 | S 9 | — |
— | 2 | 6 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 2 | 2 | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | WSW 5 | W 6 | — | W 8 | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NW 8 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 6 | NNW 9 |
— | — | — | 97 | 158 | — | 491 | 507 | — | — | — | — | — | 250 | 183 | — | 171 | 22 | 44 | 115 | 565 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 425 | 66 | 425 | 432 | 62 | 425 | 420 | 21 | 14 | 250 | 15 | 14 | 425 | 120 | 14 | 420 | 14 | 285 | 222 | 109 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Praia das Macas Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Praia das Macas provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Praia das Macas can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Praia das Macas surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Praia das Macas) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Praia das Macas may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Praia das Macas is 9 km (6 miles) from Sintra. If you plan a holiday in Lisboa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Sintra. Sintra has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











