Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer for Praia das Macas.

To be straight with you, the next couple of weeks are looking pretty grim. The wind is a real problem. The first solid week, from the 7th through to the 14th, is basically a write-off. We’re looking at a solid run of cross-onshore and cross winds, mostly from the north and northwest, blowing anywhere from 9 mph to 22 mph. That’s going to turn the ocean into a lumpy, choppy mess. The swell is coming in from the west and northwest, with heights around 3 ft to 7 ft, but with that wind, it’s just not going to be clean. The combined wave energy sits between 188 and 690, which is moderate to strong, but it’s all wasted energy. There’s simply no point paddling out.

We do see a bit of a change on the morning of the 15th. The wind swings around to the southeast at 6 mph, giving us a clean, cross-offshore breeze. The swell drops right down to 2 ft from the northwest, with a period of 9 seconds, and the combined energy is weak at 121. It’s surfable, but very ordinary. It’s the kind of day you might get a few fun little waves if you’re desperate, but it’s nothing to get excited about. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is about average for this time of year.

The real standout, the only one that catches my eye, is the morning of Saturday the 19th. We’ve got a light southeast breeze at 3 mph, which is a clean cross-offshore wind. The swell jumps up to 7 ft from the north-northwest, with a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is a solid 503, which is moderate to strong. The forecast is calling for “expect very good surf conditions”. This is the one to mark on your calendar. For a beginner spot like Praia das Macas, 7 ft is getting a bit big, but the clean conditions will make it tempting for anyone with a bit of experience. Just keep in mind that 7 ft is on the bigger side, so it might be a bit much for total beginners.

After that, the swell drops back down and the cross-onshore winds return, so it’s back to the same old story for the rest of the window. The morning of the 22nd has a 7 ft swell from the north-northwest and the energy hits 740, but it’s got a gentle cross-onshore breeze, so it’s going to be a bit lumpy. It’s still a marginal day.

So, my final call: the morning of the 19th is your best bet. It’s the only window where the stars align for clean, solid surf. The rest of the period is a waiting game.

Rusty.

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