Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 4AM (local time) - 7ft (2.2m), 12s period, W swell with 1,412 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 2.2m 12s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-offshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 7ft (2.2m) 12s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, surfers, Rusty here. Let's be straight with you about Praia das Macas. The 16-day window is a real struggle, with no good surf on offer. We're looking at a long stretch of poor conditions, so don't be holding your breath for any magic moments.
The first days are a complete write-off. Saturday the 22nd is a no-go; a 4-foot swell from the NNW with a short 9-second period gets chewed up by a 12 mph cross-shore wind, creating a lumpy mess. Sunday the 23rd looks a little cleaner, but wave heights are a mess with a 6-foot WNW swell, but the wind is howling at 25 mph, making it a total battle. The poor surf condition pattern just keeps rolling through Monday and Tuesday, with onshore winds and lumpy, choppy seas.
There's a bit of a pulse towards the end of the first week. On Friday the 28th, we see a solid 7 to 8-foot NW groundswell with a period of 10-11 seconds. The energy is definitely there – we're talking 849 to 1340 on the energy scale – but the wind is going to be a massive problem. A cross-onshore breeze at 12-16 mph is going to blow the surface to bits. That swell is right on the money for the exposed beaches, but the wind just ruins it. Honestly, at that size and with those winds, it's more of a kite surfer's afternoon than a paddle surfer's.
The following week continues the same sad story. A mix of moderate to fresh cross-onshore winds and lumpy conditions dominates the forecast. Even when the swell drops back to 3 feet, the wind is never quite right. It's a constant battle against the chop. We see a brief moment on Sunday the 6th of September where a 2-foot NW swell with a very long 11-second period hits, but the wind is still cross-onshore at 9 mph. That's a frustrating tease because the shape from that period could be special, but the wind won't let it happen.
So, what's the bottom line? There's simply nothing to recommend here. The swell windows are there, especially on the 28th, but the wind direction is poison for the whole 16 days. It's a blank run that's unfortunately pretty normal for this area when the wind sets in like this. Don't give up, forecasts can change, but right now, don't bother checking the cam.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 23mm), heaviest during Sun night. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sat afternoon). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the S on Sun morning, light winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 6mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Tue afternoon, min 19°C on Thu night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||||
Sat 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 9 | WNW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WSW 6 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 11 | NW 11 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 253 | 1179 | 698 | 563 | 888 | 878 | 669 | 311 | 203 | 134 | 77 | 47 | 105 | 181 | 390 | 433 | 612 | 849 | 1340 | 1171 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 00:04AM1.90m | 12:30PM2.12m | 1:04AM2.05m | 1:21PM2.30m | 1:47AM2.21m | 2:01PM2.49m | 2:23AM2.38m | 2:35PM2.67m | 2:55AM2.53m | 3:07PM2.82m | 3:27AM2.65m | 3:38PM2.93m | 3:58AM2.73m | |||||||
Low Tide | 5:49PM1.05m | 6:08AM1.05m | 6:56PM0.90m | 7:05AM0.89m | 7:41PM0.72m | 7:46AM0.71m | 8:17PM0.54m | 8:21AM0.53m | 8:49PM0.37m | 8:53AM0.37m | 9:20PM0.23m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:51PM0.13m | |||||||
 |  |  |  |  | | |  |  |  | | | | | |  |  | | | | |
 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — |
mm | — | — | 6 | 1 | 12 | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 18 | 19 | 16 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 9 | WNW 13 | WNW 11 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | NNW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | NW 6 | W 6 | WNW 7 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | NW 9 | NW 10 | NW 11 | NW 11 |
| kJ | 253 | 1179 | 698 | 563 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 311 | 203 | 134 | 77 | 31 | 105 | 181 | 390 | 433 | 612 | 849 | 1340 | 1171 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | NNW 9 | SW 6 | N 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 10 | — | — |
| kJ | 39 | 113 | 54 | 33 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | N 8 | SSW 13 | — | — | — | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | NW 10 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | 20 | 19 | 50 | 17 | — | — | — | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 4 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | SSE 4 | SSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | WSW 6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| kJ | — | — | 41 | 154 | 888 | 878 | 669 | — | — | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 420 | 39 | 127 | 163 | 127 | 426 | 259 | 21 | 28 | 62 | 1 | 581 | 504 | 203 | 127 | 425 | 14 | 14 | 60 | 14 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | ||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||
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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.
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