Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Right then, let's have a look at what’s cookin' at Praia das Macas over the next couple weeks.

Truth be told, the first week and a bit is pretty rough. There’s surf on offer, but the wind is just relentless. From Sunday the 6th right through to the 11th, we're lookin' at a constant northerly breeze that's either cross or cross-onshore, and often a fresh 19 mph or stronger. It's churning the ocean up something fierce. The swell hangs around in the 3 ft to 7 ft range, mostly from the NW or NNW, and the combined energy is moderate to strong (up to 930), but it doesn’t matter one bit when the ocean’s blown out and lumpy. The best you can say for those days is that it’s more of a kiter’s playground than a paddle surfer’s dream. There's a real gap in quality here for a good few days.

Then we get a little flicker of hope. Saturday the 12th morning sees a light southeasterly cross-off breeze, which cleans things right up. The swell is small at 3 ft from the NNW, with weak energy (75), but for a beginner, those clean, tiny waves might be worth a splash.

But the real standout, the one you’ve been waiting for, comes on Sunday the 13th. The morning is absolutely glassy – that’s a major positive. We’ve got a clean 3 ft wave rolling in, but here’s the kicker: the period jumps to 13 seconds, a proper long-period groundswell from the NW. That's going to push in with real shape and energy (378), even if the height is modest. It's a fantastic session for a beginner or someone on a longboard. The water temp is 68°, which is about average for this time of year, so no surprises there. Just be aware that with a long-period swell like that at a beach break, it can sometimes stand up and close out a bit. Still, with glassy conditions, it's the best on offer by a long shot.

Looking further out, the window on Monday the 21st is also worth circling on the calendar. The morning is glassy again, with a clean 5 ft swell from the NW at 10 seconds. The combined energy is strong (591) and conditions are set to be very good. It’s a promise, but it’s a long way off, so keep an eye on it.

So, to wrap it up: the first week is a write-off thanks to the wind. Your one absolute standout is the morning of Sunday the 13th for a clean, glassy, long-period knee-to-waist high wave. The morning of Saturday the 12th is a smaller, cleaner option, and Monday the 21st has real potential way down the line. The crowds at Praia das Macas can pop up sometimes, so get in early on those good days.

Rusty.

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