Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for our stretch of coast over the next couple of weeks. I’ll level with you straight up – it’s a bit of a tough watch for a while. The forecast shows a lot of days where the wind is just messy and onshore, so we’re going to have to be patient. There’s a decent gap with nothing worth getting excited about right through the middle of the period. The first real flicker of hope comes way down the line.

We start off on Wednesday the 19th of August. It’s not much, but it’s the only thing that’s even surfable early on. Praia das Macas is seeing a small 3ft swell from the NNW with a short period of 7 seconds. The combined energy is weak (106), so don’t expect any punch. The wind is a light cross-offshore from the south, which keeps things clean for a beginner-friendly wave. The water temp is about average for this time of year. It’s small and gutless, but if you’re just learning to pop up, it’s a session.

After that, it goes pretty quiet. From Thursday the 20th right through until Tuesday the 25th of August, the wind turns cross-onshore and fresh, and the swell is either tiny or blown out. Don’t bother paddling out. Even when the swell bumps up a bit around the 21st and 22nd – with 6ft to 8ft from the NNW and combined energy readings into the moderate range (601 to 952) – the onshore wind just ruins everything. It’s lumpy and messy.

We get a little breather on Wednesday the 26th of August. The swell is 5ft from the NW with a 10-second period and moderate energy (419). It’s marginal, and the wind is a light cross-shore. It might be worth a look if you’re desperate, but it’s not the standout.

Then we hit another dry spell. From the 27th of August through to the 31st of August, the wind is howling from the north and northwest, with speeds hitting 18 to 22 mph. The swell gets bigger – 7ft on the 27th afternoon with strong energy (1052), and 6ft to 7ft on the 28th and 31st with combined energy up to 1401 – but it’s all cross-onshore and ugly. Not for paddle surfing; honestly, this stretch looks more interesting for kite surfing than anything else.

The biggest swell of the period hits on the 1st of September. We’re looking at 8ft to 10ft from the NNW with a long 12-second period. The combined energy is very strong (2065 to 2196). But again, the wind is a fresh cross-onshore at 22 mph. It’s a lot of water moving around, but it’s blown out and messy. This is expert-only territory if you even try it, but conditions are poor.

Now, here’s the one that stands out as the best on offer. It’s far out, so keep it in the back of your mind. On Thursday the 3rd of September, the morning session at Praia das Macas looks like it could finally deliver. The swell drops to a clean 5ft from the NW with a 9-second period and moderate energy (404). The wind? Glassy. Dead calm, slight air. That’s the magic word. This is the only window where the wind is truly offshore and light, making for clean, lined-up surf. For a spot that’s consistent and exposed, this is the one to circle on the calendar. Just keep in mind it’s a long way out, so forecasts can shift, but right now, that Thursday morning is your best bet.

That’s the story. It’s a long wait for a clean one, but that early September morning might just be worth the patience.

Stay frothy,
Rusty

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