Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, mates, Rusty again, with the same outlook but in the old-school numbers for those who think in feet.

Let’s be real about Praia das Macas. This forecast is a tough one to read. We’re looking at a solid stretch of poor conditions, and the wind is the main culprit. It’s gonna be cross-on or onshore for the vast majority of the next two weeks, and it’s got enough kick to wreck any chance of clean surf. We’re talking about at least a full week of not much to get excited about.

Startin’ with the immediate. Friday, 21st August is a total washout. There’s swell – a 3ft NW swell in the morning (477 weak-to-moderate energy) building to 7ft from the NNW in the arvo (775 moderate energy) – but the wind is a fresh 30 km/h cross-on, and the reports say "lumpy" and "poor". No go. Saturday morning, 22nd August, shows a small window with a 4ft NNW swell and a light offshore from the WNW, but it’s flagged as "marginal" and the tide might be an issue. The energy is a moderate 385. The arvo goes cross-shore and choppy. Sunday the 23rd has some clean-ish cross-off wind from the SSE, but it’s blowin’ 35 km/h. The swell is 7ft from the west (990 moderate energy) – that wind is just too strong to make it fun.

Then we hit a dead zone. From Monday 24th August all the way through to Thursday 3rd September, every single session is "poor surf conditions". The wind is relentless – fresh cross-ons, strong breezes, chop and lump. Swell sizes bounce around from 2ft up to 8ft, but it’s all ruined by the wind. The water temp is a normal 69°, so you won’t freeze while you’re gettin’ blown off your board.

There is one date that stands out, but it’s a long way off and you gotta be careful with it. On Friday, 4th September, the swell picks up to 7ft from the NW in the morning and 7ft from the NNW in the arvo. The combined energy is strong (592 and 666). But, the wind is a fresh 30-35 km/h cross-on, makin’ it lumpy again. This is strictly for the experienced crew due to the size (over 7ft) and the messy conditions. Saturday the 5th is the same story, with 7ft swell but cross-on wind.

So, the bottom line: there is no standout session. The best you’re gonna get is probably that brief moment on Saturday morning, 22nd August, where a light offshore and a 4ft NNW swell could give you a few clean-ish, smaller waves for the beginners, but it’s a gamble. Everything else is a fight with the wind. For a beach break like this, the constant cross-onshore wind makes it look more like a kite-surfing spot than a paddle-surfing one for most of the period. Keep an eye on that 4th-5th September window, but don’t get your hopes up. The pattern is set poor for a while.

Rusty.

Read more