Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on the table for the next couple of weeks at Praia das Macas.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – the next week and a half is a pretty grim watch. From now right through until late August, the conditions are just not playing ball. We’ve got a long stretch of poor surf with a lot of cross-onshore wind messing things up. The swell that does show up is weak, with combined energy mostly sitting between 72 and 312 (moderate energy at best), and the period is often short. It’s the kind of setup where you’re better off staying on the beach with a cold drink than paddling out.

For a beginner-friendly spot like Praia das Macas, it’s a real shame. The water temp is sitting at 69°F, which is about average for this time of year, so at least the water’s fine. But the wind is just relentless from the north and northwest, and those cross-onshore conditions mean choppy, bumpy faces that don’t do this place any favors.

The first real flicker of hope comes on Sunday, the 16th of August. Early morning, the wind finally drops to a light breeze from the north, only 6 mph, and it’s a cross-shore wind. That’s a big deal here. The swell is pushing 7ft from the NNW with an 8-second period, and the combined energy is strong at 603. It’s still a bit of a messy situation, rated marginal due to tide, but for this stretch, it’s the cleanest we’ll see. That 7ft is solid, but honestly, for a beach break, that’s getting into expert territory, and with a short period like that, it’ll be a bit dumpy. Keep your wits about you.

Monday morning, the 17th, is similar – light north wind, 6ft from the NNW, period 8 seconds, combined energy at 414. It’s a slight step down, but still the best of a bad bunch if you missed Sunday.

Now, for the real standout, you have to look all the way to Friday, the 21st of August. This is the one that’s got my attention, even if it’s a week and a half away and we have to be a bit cautious. The swell jumps to 8ft from the NNW with a 9-second period. The combined energy hits a whopping 1165 in the morning and 1236 in the afternoon – that is strong, powerful energy. The wind is light from the southwest in the morning, just 6 mph cross-onshore, and it shifts to a 9 mph westerly in the afternoon. It’s still marked as marginal due to tide, but with that much power and lighter wind, it’s the best chance for a proper session. But a word to the wise: 8ft with that short period is going to be a heavy, powerful wave. This is not for beginners; this is for experienced surfers only. The crowd situation here can get busy sometimes, so expect a few people out for this one.

Sadly, after that brief highlight, Saturday and Sunday blow out again with strong northerly winds making a mess of things.

So, to wrap it up: there’s a small window on the 16th and 17th for some messy but rideable surf, and a much bigger, more powerful window on the 21st that’s the real one to circle on your calendar. Don’t hold your breath for the rest.

Stay salty,
Rusty

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