Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk surf.

We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag here for Praia das Macas over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are mostly a write-off, with onshore winds and weak, messy swell, but there is some genuine light at the end of the tunnel. The standout windows are a week and a bit out, so don’t lose hope just yet.

The water is sitting at 65°F right now, which is a solid 4°F colder than usual for this time of year – that’s well worth a thicker suit if you’re heading out.

Right, starting off, Saturday the 12th is pretty grim – small 4ft NNW windswell with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is cross to cross-onshore. Wave energy is weak (165). Not much to get excited about.

Sunday the 13th shows some improvement – a clean 3ft NW groundswell at 13 seconds in the morning with a light cross-offshore wind. Combined energy sits at 344. That’s a decent little window for the experienced crew, but the afternoon turns choppy again.

Monday the 14th morning is the pick of the first week – glassy conditions, 3ft NW groundswell at 11 seconds, energy reading 279. The wind is glass, so the surface will be like a mirror. That’s a solid morning for a paddle if you can get out there.

Tuesday the 15th sees the swell drop and wind pick up – 2ft to 4ft, period dropping fast, and energy falls off a cliff (103 to 114). Choppy and lumpy. Not worth it.

Wednesday the 16th through to Friday the 18th is a no-go zone. Swell jumps up to 7ft to 12ft, but it’s howling onshore, near gale force winds – 31 mph in the mornings. Wave energy is high (900 to 1895), but it’s blown-out and dangerous for anyone except the most insane – and even then, it’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle session.

Saturday the 19th morning is marginal – 5ft NW groundswell at a very long 14 seconds, but cross winds and energy at 1258. It’s lumpy. Better for reefs than this beach setup. Sunday the 20th is similar, cross winds again.

Now here’s the gold – Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd. Monday morning: 7ft NW groundswell, long 14-second period, light offshore wind (6 mph from the NE), and the energy is pumping at 1902. The score says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I agree – that’s a proper groundswell, so it’ll wrap in nicely. The caveat: at 7ft, it’s big and powerful, so only for those who know what they’re doing. Tuesday morning: similar story – 8ft NW at 13 seconds, clean with a light cross-offshore wind, energy at 1847. That’s two mornings of serious, quality surf. These are the standouts.

Wednesday the 23rd morning pulls back a bit – 6ft NW at 11 seconds, completely glassy with no wind. Energy at 690. That’s a very good session for intermediates and up, cleaner than the days before.

From Thursday the 24th onward, it fades. Swell drops below 4ft, winds turn cross-onshore, and by the weekend of the 27th it’s back to lumpy, with strong onshores. The 27th afternoon shows a 4ft NW swell with a very long 16-second period and energy at 880, but the wind is a strong 28 mph cross-onshore – messy, not worth it.

Best on offer: Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd mornings. Get out there early, wind is clean, swell is solid and long-period. This is the real deal.

Rusty.

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