Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s have a look at what’s cookin’ for Praia das Macas over the next couple of weeks.

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a rough start. The first week or so is pretty much a write-off. We’ve got a lot of onshore wind and messy, lumpy conditions. The wind just won’t play ball for ages, and the quality of the surf is poor. You’ll see some swell rolling in, like a 7ft at 7 seconds on Thursday the 27th, but with a cross-onshore breeze, it’s just gonna be a choppy mess.

Friday the 28th morning is the first time we get a glimmer of hope. The swell is a solid 7ft from the WNW with a nice long period of 11 seconds. That’s a proper groundswell, bringing some real energy (combined energy of all swells directed here 1061). The wind is only a light breeze, making it a cross-on, but it’s the cleanest it’s been all week. This is a marginal call, though. It might be a little fat and hard to read with that long period at a beach break, but for a bigger-wave surfer, it’s the only window in the first week.

Then, we hit a real dead spell. From Saturday the 29th right through until Tuesday the 3rd of September, the onshores come back with a vengeance. Strong breezes, cross-onshore winds, and lumpy seas are the name of the game. The swell sticks around but the quality is just not there. You can forget about a decent wave for nearly five days.

Now, hang in there, because Thursday the 3rd of September morning is where it finally turns. We get a shift. The wind swings around to a light cross-offshore from the NE – just a slight air at 3 mph. That wind is gonna clean the face right up, and with 5ft of swell from the NNW, it’ll be rideable. The combined energy of all swells directed here is moderate (322), so there’s some push. It’s not epic, but it’s the first truly clean surf we’ve had. A good time for the beginners to get out on a longboard.

But the real standout, the one you should be circling on your calendar, is Tuesday the 8th of September. Mark it down. The morning session is looking prime. We’ve got 6ft of swell from the NNW, a light cross-offshore breeze from the NE, and a clean, open face. The combined energy of all swells directed here is strong (641), so it’s got some serious punch. This is the best-looking wave of the whole outlook.

If you can stretch it, Wednesday the 9th of September morning is also a ripper. The swell is a bit smaller at 6ft from the NNW, but the wind goes glassy – dead calm. That’s about as perfect a condition as you can get for a morning paddle. Combined energy of all swells directed here is still solid (508). Expect clean, lined-up waves, though watch for a few bigger lulls between sets with that 9-second period. Just be aware, this spot can get crowded sometimes, so on a glassy day like that, paddle out early.

Overall, the first week is a total bust, but the second week has some real promise, especially those two mornings on the 8th and 9th. The water temp is about average for this time of year, so a spring suit will do you fine.

This is Rusty, signing off.

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