Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 18 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 18 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Sunday 23 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 8ft (2.5m), 8s period, NNW swell with 887 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 18 Aug, 10AM (local time) - 4.5ft (1.4m), 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 Tuesday (Aug 18) at 10AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.4m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.3m and 8s. 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 2.5m 8s and forecast to arrive on Sunday (Aug 23) at 7AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 4s period and expected on Wednesday (Aug 19) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 10AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 10AM (Tue 18th Aug) | 4.5ft (1.4m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 7AM (Sun 23rd Aug) | 8ft (2.5m) 8s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, Rusty here, and I’m gonna level with ya – this outlook for Praia das Macas is a bit of a head-scratcher. We’ve got a solid run of swell on the cards, but the wind just won’t play ball for most of it. The first real chance to wet a line comes in on Tuesday morning, the 18th of August.
Tuesday morning, the 18th, we’re looking at the pick of the whole forecast, and it’s a bittersweet one. Swell is a clean 5ft from the NNW, with a short period of 8 seconds, giving us a moderate wave energy (260). But the wind is a gentle S breeze at 15 km/h, blowing cross-offshore. That’s gonna keep the surface glassy and the lines clean. It’s a beginner-friendly spot, and with conditions like this, it’ll be a fun, uncrowded morning – though crowds are possible here. The water temp is about average for this time of year.
After that, it’s a long, grim stretch. From Tuesday afternoon all the way through to Saturday morning, the 29th of August, the wind is a mess. Mostly cross-on or onshore, building from a gentle breeze up to a strong breeze by the 23rd. The swell hangs around, hitting 8ft on Sunday morning the 23rd and again on Monday the 31st, but those NNW winds at 35-40 km/h will chop it up something shocking. That kind of size with that wind is more of a kite-surfing setup than a paddle session. The period stays short, mostly 6-10 seconds, so the energy is there but it’s ugly.
There is a tiny glimmer on Saturday morning, the 29th of August. The swell is 5ft from the NNW, period 9 seconds, and the wind drops to a light WNW at 10 km/h, coming straight onshore. It’s marginal, but it’s the only other time the wind isn’t howling. The wave energy is strong (450), but it’s a “marginal” call – maybe worth a look if you’re desperate.
Sunday, the 30th of August, the swell jumps to 8-8ft from the NNW, but with a moderate cross-shore wind, it’s still messy. By Monday, the 31st, the swell is 8ft with a light cross-on wind – again, marginal, and that size is for experts only. The period is 8-9 seconds, so it’s not gonna be a thing of beauty.
Honestly, if you can get out on Tuesday morning, do it. Everything else in the 16-day window is either blown out or too big and messy. The good news? This break is consistent, so it won’t stay flat for long, but this run is a tough one.
Rusty
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Mon night, min 20°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 20°C on Sat morning, min 19°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | |||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph  | |||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 243 | 202 | 135 | 97 | 67 | 51 | 45 | 44 | 329 | 302 | 763 | 665 | 731 | 549 | 671 | 887 | 672 | 501 | 483 | 327 | 236 |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 6:54AM2.45m | 7:13PM2.39m | 7:37AM2.27m | 8:01PM2.14m | 8:29AM2.10m | 9:05PM1.94m | 9:44AM1.98m | 10:36PM1.85m | 11:16AM1.99m | 00:04AM1.90m | 12:30PM2.12m | 1:04AM2.05m | 1:21PM2.30m | 1:47AM2.21m | |||||||
Low Tide | 12:56PM0.58m | 1:18AM0.68m | 1:42PM0.79m | 2:03AM0.90m | 2:42PM0.98m | 3:06AM1.07m | 4:10PM1.09m | 4:41AM1.14m | 5:49PM1.05m | 6:08AM1.05m | 6:56PM0.90m | 7:05AM0.89m | 7:41PM0.72m | ||||||||
 | |  | | | | | |  | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
 | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — |
 | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 22 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 22 | 22 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 15 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 11 | SSW 14 | WNW 10 | W 9 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 13 | W 8 | W 8 |
| kJ | 243 | 202 | 135 | 97 | 67 | 30 | 45 | 44 | 59 | 172 | 21 | 72 | 38 | 25 | 23 | 12 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 8 | SW 16 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 10 | NNW 5 | NW 11 | NNW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | SSW 13 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | W 9 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 |
| kJ | 10 | 38 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 51 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 25 | 11 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | — | 2 | 7 | 7 | 6 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 14 | WNW 8 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 4 | SSW 5 | SSW 4 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | — | NNW 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 11 |
| kJ | 7 | 12 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 21 | — | 14 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SSW 2 | — | — | SSW 3 | — | — | NW 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 |
| kJ | — | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | — | 12 | 329 | 302 | 763 | 665 | 731 | 549 | 671 | 887 | 672 | 501 | 483 | 327 | 236 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 439 | 420 | 618 | 439 | 129 | 227 | 548 | 468 | 604 | 508 | 212 | 115 | 379 | 30 |
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.
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