Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up for Praia das Macas.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you—this is a rough stretch. The next week and a half is pretty much a write-off for decent surfing. We’ve got swell on offer, but the wind is a constant problem. Most days it’s a cross-on or cross-shore breeze, blowing anywhere from 9 mph right up to 25 mph, and that’s just going to chop everything up. The water temperature is sitting at 68°, which is about a degree and a half cooler than average for this time of year, so nothing weird there, but you’ll still want a spring suit.

From Saturday the 29th through to Thursday the 4th of September, the swell is in the 4 ft to 6 ft range, mostly from the NW, with periods between 7 and 10 seconds—so it’s pretty average, short-period stuff. The combined swell energy is moderate, bouncing between 220 and 695. But the wind is always on it, making it choppy, lumpy, and messy. Honestly, not worth paddling out for a beginner or anyone else.

Friday the 5th of September is the one standout in this whole outlook. Saturday morning, the 5th, we’ve got a clean window. Swell is 7 ft from the NW, period 9 seconds, and the wind shifts to a light cross-offshore from the ENE at 6 mph. The combined energy jumps up to 1069, which is strong. That’s the kind of setup that’ll give you some nice, punchy waves. The report says “excellent surf conditions for experienced surfers,” and I’d agree—that 7 ft is pushing into expert territory, especially for a beach break. Crowds are only “sometimes” an issue, so you might get a bit of company, but it won’t be a zoo. This is the best on offer by a long shot.

After that, it’s back to the same old story. Sunday the 6th through to Thursday the 10th, the swell drops, the wind turns back onshore, and it’s all poor conditions again. There’s a little spike on Friday the 11th of September, with a 7 ft swell from the NW, period 12 seconds (a nice long groundswell), and combined energy of 1417—very strong. But the wind is cross-shore and moderate, and the report calls it “marginal surf forecast or questionable tide conditions.” So it’s a maybe, not a sure thing.

The rest of the run into the second week is just more of the same: onshore winds, messy waves, and nothing to get excited about. The 13th of September is a full-on blowout with near-gale winds.

So, bottom line: if you’re keen, your only real shot is Saturday morning, the 5th of September. Get up early, get in the water before the wind shifts, and you’ll find some solid, clean waves. The rest of the time, leave the board in the car.

Rusty.

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