Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 15 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 16 Aug, 1AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 8s period, NNW swell with 829 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 8s period with NNW swell.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Praia das Macas this week:
The surf forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days: The first swell (rated 1 star or higher) is forecast to arrive on Monday (Aug 17) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.7m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 15s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Praia das Macas in the next 16 days are 2.4m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 16) at 1AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 1AM (Sun 16th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright, let’s get into it. The next couple of weeks are looking pretty rough for this stretch of coast, if I’m being honest.
Praia das Macas is the only spot on the table, and for the first few days it’s a tough watch. Saturday the 15th is a write-off: a lumpy, cross-onshore mess with 5ft of NW windswell and a fresh breeze out of the north at 19 mph. The water temp is sitting at a pretty normal 69° for this time of year.
Sunday the 16th shows a bit more size – 7ft from the NNW – but the wind is still crossing, making for a crinkly surface. Not worth getting excited about. The energy is moderate, but the onshore chop kills it.
Monday the 17th is the first real glimmer. A light southeasterly cross-offshore wind (6 mph) will clean things up on the morning tide, with chest-high waves around 6ft from the NNW. It’s not epic, but it’s the best window in the early stretch. The combined energy is moderate. It’s a beginner-friendly break, so if you’re looking for a soft, forgiving wave, Monday morning is your go.
After that, things drop away fast. Tuesday the 18th still has a clean morning with a light southerly cross-offshore, but the swell is down to 4ft. By Wednesday the 19th, we’re below 3ft, with energy dropping to weak. There’s a dead stretch from Wednesday the 19th right through to Thursday the 20th, with almost no surf to speak of.
Friday the 21st picks up again, but with a nasty cross-onshore wind from the NNW, this time reaching 22 to 25 mph. That brings 5ft of choppy, lumpy junk. By Saturday the 22nd, the swell pushes to 7ft with a 10-second period from the NW, but the wind is screaming at 28 mph – that’s side-onshore mess, not paddle surfing.
Sunday the 23rd sees the biggest swell of the run: 10ft from the NNW. That’s big, expert-only territory, but the wind is still strong cross-onshore, making it sloppy and dangerous. The combined energy is very strong. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than a clean paddle session.
We then drift through the last week of August with persistent cross-onshore winds and dropping swell. Most days are poor surf to marginal. There’s a little flicker on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th – clean cross-offshore mornings, but wave heights are tiny at 2ft to 3ft, with weak energy. The best you can say is it’s clean enough for a longboard cruise.
Finally, on Sunday the 30th, there’s one last chance: the morning brings 5ft from the NW, a light southeasterly cross-offshore, and clean conditions, with moderate energy. It’s not a standout by any stretch, but after that long run of onshore slop, it’s the most surfable finish to the outlook.
So, top call: Monday morning 17th August for the cleanest chest-high waves, and Sunday morning 30th August as the consolation prize if you’re still hanging out.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastLight rain (total 3mm), mostly falling on Sun night. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Sat morning). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the NNW on Sat afternoon, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Tue morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Winds increasing (calm on Tue night, fresh winds from the N by Thu afternoon). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 15 | Sunday 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | |||||||||||||||
AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | AM | PM | Night | |
Swell Height Map | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wave Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
281 | 682 | 829 | 700 | 422 | 247 | 361 | 306 | 212 | 223 | 206 | 133 | 67 | 44 | 52 | 46 | 45 | 527 | 288 | 173 | 127 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 5:14PM3.09m | 5:38AM2.76m | 5:53PM2.90m | 6:15AM2.62m | 6:32PM2.65m | 6:54AM2.45m | 7:13PM2.39m | 7:37AM2.27m | 8:01PM2.14m | 8:29AM2.10m | 9:05PM1.94m | 9:44AM1.98m | 10:36PM1.85m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:57AM0.08m | 11:28PM0.05m | 11:36AM0.20m | 00:04AM0.23m | 12:15PM0.37m | 00:40AM0.45m | 12:56PM0.58m | 1:18AM0.68m | 1:42PM0.79m | 2:03AM0.90m | 2:42PM0.98m | 3:06AM1.07m | 4:10PM1.09m | ||||||||
6:50 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | |
— | 8:32 | — | — | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 19 | 19 | 16 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 24 | 23 | 26 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 15 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | SW 18 | SW 17 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | SSW 15 | WNW 9 | NNW 11 | NNW 10 |
281 | 12 | 11 | 700 | 422 | 247 | 361 | 306 | 212 | 223 | 206 | 133 | 67 | 44 | 21 | 46 | 45 | 21 | 26 | 84 | 127 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 18 | — | S 17 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SW 15 | SW 15 | W 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 6 | SSW 4 | — | NW 12 | WNW 9 | NNW 6 |
6 | — | 5 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 52 | 12 | 2 | — | 24 | 25 | 47 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | — | — | — | — | SW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SW 14 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 4 | SSW 4 | SSW 13 | SSW 12 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 8 |
— | — | — | — | — | — | 12 | 9 | 26 | 7 | 38 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 15 | 21 | 21 | 13 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 7 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | SSW 2 | — | S 3 | S 4 | — | — | NNW 5 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | — |
251 | 682 | 829 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 9 | — | — | 19 | 527 | 288 | 173 | — | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 21 | 584 | 22 | 1 | 127 | 20 | 0 | 473 | 62 | 0 | 195 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 16 | 203 | 548 | 222 | 508 | 508 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Information about the Praia das Macas Surf forecast
The above surf forecast table for Praia das Macas provides essential information for determining whether the surfing conditions will be good over the next 16 days. A general guide to surfing at Praia das Macas can be found by selecting the local surf guide option on the grey menu. Our Praia das Macas surf forecast is unique since it includes wave energy (power) that defines the real feel of the surf rather than just the height or the period. If you surf the same spot (Praia das Macas) regularly then make a mental note of the wave energy from the surf forecast table each time you go. Very soon you may start to choose your surf days based on the wave energy alone combined with our forecast of favourable offshore wind conditions. Our star ratings will help here and of course you will also find the usual wave height and period predictions on our surf forecasts as well as a full break down of the swell components under our advanced users option (to reveal that, click the little Einstein character under the tide times).
Further information to help with frequently asked questions about our surf forecast for Praia das Macas may be found under the help tab on the top menu and also by moving your mouse over the question marks on the surf forecast table itself. Please always bear in mind that the forecast is for near-shore open water and local factors at each surf break influence the actual breaking wave height, such as the beach / reef profile, water depths offshore and shelter.
Praia das Macas is 9 km (6 miles) from Sintra. If you plan a holiday in Lisboa, look for hotels and other accommodation in Sintra. Sintra has rooms for a wide range of budgets as well as car hire and transport links.











