Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s get this straight. I’ve looked at what’s on offer here for the next couple of weeks, and I’ll be honest with you – it’s a pretty grim stretch for surf. We’re talking about a long, dry spell with very little to get excited about. The first real chance of anything worth paddling out for doesn’t show up until the morning of Saturday the 5th of September, and even then it’s a marginal call. Before that, from now through the end of August and into the first week of September, it’s all wind-affected, choppy, and messy. There’s a solid week of poor conditions with cross and cross-onshore winds, moderate to fresh breezes, and lumpy, uninviting waves. The swell energy is weak to moderate at best, with values like 218, 303, 386 – nothing that’ll get your heart racing. The water temperature is sitting around 68°F, which is about normal for this time of year, no big anomalies there.

The only spot we’ve got to work with is Praia das Macas, and it’s a consistent, exposed beginner-friendly beach break that sees swell from the NW. The optimum swell direction for this spot is from the NW, so when the swell does show up, it’s coming from the right angle. But the wind is the killer here. The first decent window comes on Saturday morning, 5th September. We’ve got a 5ft NW swell with a period of 10 seconds, cross-offshore winds from the NE at 15 mph, and the conditions are actually clean. The combined swell energy is moderate at 545. It’s still a marginal call, but if you’re keen, that’s your shot. The crowds are sometimes an issue, so keep that in mind.

Then on Sunday morning, 6th September, it gets a little better. The swell drops to 3ft from the NW with an 11-second period, cross-offshore winds from the ENE at 9 mph, and the conditions are clean. The energy is 354, moderate. Expect good surf conditions – the forecast actually says that. This is the standout of the whole run. Small but clean, with a bit of period to give it some shape. After that, it goes downhill again. Monday morning, 7th September, has a glassy 3ft NNW swell with almost no wind, but the period is only 10 seconds and the energy is weak at 155. Surfable but ordinary. Then the wind picks up again and we’re back to poor conditions for the rest of the second week.

From the 8th of September onward, it’s a wasteland. The swell drops off to 1ft to 3ft, periods are short, and the wind is mostly cross or cross-onshore, with energy levels dropping below 100 at times. There’s a brief spike on the morning of the 14th of September with a 5ft WNW swell, 10-second period, light cross-onshore winds, and moderate energy of 446 – but it’s still a marginal call. That’s a long way out, and given the pattern, I wouldn’t bank on it.

So, the honest truth? If you’re itching for a paddle, your best bet is the morning of Sunday, 6th September at Praia das Macas. Small, clean, and with a bit of period. Saturday morning the 5th is a backup, but it’s marginal. Everything else is either blown out, tiny, or both. This is a classic blank run for this area – when it’s not on, it’s not on. Forecasts can change, but right now, I’d be looking at other plans.

Rusty.

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