Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s on offer down at Praia das Macas. It’s a bit of a tough stretch ahead, I gotta be honest. The wind is your main enemy for most of this outlook, and that’s a real shame because there’s plenty of swell on the way.

Right now and for the next few days, we’re dealing with a lot of cross-onshore and onshore wind. The swell is there, but the quality is just not there. The energy is weak to moderate, with readings in the low to mid hundreds. You’re looking at short-period windswell, below 8 seconds, which just doesn’t have the shape or push for a good wave.

Now, there is one shining moment. On Monday morning, 27 July, we get a break in the weather. The wind swings around to a glassy NNW at just 3 mph. It’s going to be clean, looking like 4 ft of NNW swell with a combined energy of 214. That’s the window you want. For a beginner-friendly spot like this, it’s the best you’re going to get. Get on it early because it’s short-lived—by the afternoon the wind goes onshore and the swell drops off.

After that, it’s a long, frustrating run. From late Monday through the rest of the month and into the first week of August, it’s just chop and lump. The wind is relentless out of the N and NNW, mostly fresh and strong, making everything a mess. The swell picks up significantly around 4 August and into the second week, with heights well over 7 ft, reaching 8 ft by the 5th and 6th. The combined energy jumps into the strong range, hitting 1179 on Wednesday the 5th, but it’s all ruined by that strong cross-onshore wind. At that size and with that wind, this spot looks way more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s big and powerful, but blown out and messy. Beginners should stay well clear of that. Even for experts, the conditions are just poor.

We’re then looking at big, lumpy, messy surf right through to at least 10 August. That last Monday morning has a drop to 3 ft with moderate energy, but the cross-onshore wind is still there chopping it up.

So, the call is simple: your one standout is Monday morning, 27 July. Glassy conditions, clean 4 ft waves. Don’t sleep on it, because the rest of the 16-day window is a battle against the wind.

Stay stoked, but stay smart. I’ll be out there Monday morning if you are.

Rusty.

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