
Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 6 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Sunday 13 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 13s period, NW swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Thursday 10 Sep, 4PM (local time) - 6.5ft (2.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with 876 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Saturday 12 Sep, 10AM (local time) - 2.5ft (0.8m), 6s 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 Saturday (Sep 12) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.8m and 6s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 10s. 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 2.0m 10s and forecast to arrive on Thursday (Sep 10) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.3m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Sep 12) at 10AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Sat 12th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 6s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2.5ft (0.8m) 13s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Thu 10th Sep) | 6.5ft (2.0m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
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.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 25°C on Fri night, min 17°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the N on Wed night, light winds from the NNE by Fri night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 6 | Monday 7 | Tuesday 8 | Wednesday 9 | Thursday 10 | Friday 11 | Saturday 12 | |||||||||||||||
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 12 | NW 11 | W 14 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
442 | 304 | 515 | 799 | 628 | 423 | 286 | 180 | 172 | 141 | 403 | 514 | 534 | 876 | 296 | 303 | 214 | 102 | 42 | 70 | 118 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross | cross-on |
High Tide | 11:05AM2.27m | 11:58PM2.19m | 12:23PM2.48m | 1:04AM2.39m | 1:21PM2.73m | 1:55AM2.59m | 2:09PM2.95m | 2:38AM2.76m | 2:52PM3.09m | 3:17AM2.87m | 3:31PM3.15m | 3:54AM2.92m | 4:08PM3.11m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 5:40PM0.72m | 6:04AM0.77m | 6:52PM0.49m | 7:07AM0.55m | 7:45PM0.26m | 7:56AM0.34m | 8:29PM0.07m | 8:38AM0.17m | 9:09PM-0.04m | 9:17AM0.06m | 9:45PM-0.07m | 9:54AM0.03m | 10:19PM-0.02m | ||||||||
7:09 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:11 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:13 | — | — | 7:15 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | |
— | 8:00 | — | — | 7:59 | — | — | 7:58 | — | — | 7:55 | — | — | 7:54 | — | — | 7:52 | — | — | 7:52 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 19 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 22 | 21 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 25 |
Feels °C | 20 | 18 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 19 | 18 | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 12 | NW 11 | W 14 | W 12 | W 12 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NNW 8 | W 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 |
442 | 304 | 515 | 799 | 628 | 423 | 286 | 180 | 172 | 82 | 23 | 145 | 534 | 10 | 151 | 303 | 214 | 102 | 42 | 70 | 118 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 8 | WNW 9 | NW 10 | NNW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 14 | — | — | NNW 12 | — | W 7 | W 7 | W 7 | NNW 9 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NNW 7 |
82 | 44 | 177 | 61 | — | — | — | — | — | 7 | — | — | 125 | — | 4 | 4 | 4 | 29 | 19 | 50 | 57 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 12 | WNW 18 | W 9 | NW 10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 10 | W 9 | W 8 | W 8 | N 9 | S 3 | NW 16 |
5 | 61 | 42 | 24 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 14 | 1 | 61 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | NNW 5 | — | NNW 6 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | — | NNW 10 | NNW 8 | — | — | — | SSE 3 | WNW 2 | WNW 4 |
— | 25 | 64 | 46 | 75 | 49 | 44 | 33 | — | 141 | 403 | 514 | — | 876 | 296 | — | — | — | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 14 | 205 | 15 | 14 | 415 | 14 | 15 | 420 | 14 | 269 | 569 | 115 | 22 | 534 | 35 | 20 | 190 | 20 | 0 | 62 | 14 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.










