
Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 12 Sep 2026:
- Best quality surf: Thursday 17 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 10ft (3.0m), 10s period, NNW swell with cross-shore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Saturday 19 Sep, 4AM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 15s period, NW swell with 2,360 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Sunday 13 Sep, 7AM (local time) - 2ft (0.6m), 14s period with NW 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 Sunday (Sep 13) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 0.6m and 14s period with a secondary swell of 0.9m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be glassy as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Praia das Macas in the next 16 days are 2.4m 15s and forecast to arrive on Saturday (Sep 19) at 4AM. Winds are predicted to be cross-shore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.1m 11s period and expected on Sunday (Sep 13) at 10PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Sun 13th Sep) | 2ft (0.6m) 14s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Thu 17th Sep) | 10ft (3.0m) 10s |
| Most Powerful | 4AM (Sat 19th Sep) | 8ft (2.4m) 15s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
G’day, I’m Rusty. Let’s talk surf.
We’ve got a bit of a mixed bag here for Praia das Macas over the next couple of weeks. The first few days are mostly a write-off, with onshore winds and weak, messy swell, but there is some genuine light at the end of the tunnel. The standout windows are a week and a bit out, so don’t lose hope just yet.
The water is sitting at 65°F right now, which is a solid 4°F colder than usual for this time of year – that’s well worth a thicker suit if you’re heading out.
Right, starting off, Saturday the 12th is pretty grim – small 4ft NNW windswell with a short period of 7 seconds, and the wind is cross to cross-onshore. Wave energy is weak (165). Not much to get excited about.
Sunday the 13th shows some improvement – a clean 3ft NW groundswell at 13 seconds in the morning with a light cross-offshore wind. Combined energy sits at 344. That’s a decent little window for the experienced crew, but the afternoon turns choppy again.
Monday the 14th morning is the pick of the first week – glassy conditions, 3ft NW groundswell at 11 seconds, energy reading 279. The wind is glass, so the surface will be like a mirror. That’s a solid morning for a paddle if you can get out there.
Tuesday the 15th sees the swell drop and wind pick up – 2ft to 4ft, period dropping fast, and energy falls off a cliff (103 to 114). Choppy and lumpy. Not worth it.
Wednesday the 16th through to Friday the 18th is a no-go zone. Swell jumps up to 7ft to 12ft, but it’s howling onshore, near gale force winds – 31 mph in the mornings. Wave energy is high (900 to 1895), but it’s blown-out and dangerous for anyone except the most insane – and even then, it’s a kite-surfing day, not a paddle session.
Saturday the 19th morning is marginal – 5ft NW groundswell at a very long 14 seconds, but cross winds and energy at 1258. It’s lumpy. Better for reefs than this beach setup. Sunday the 20th is similar, cross winds again.
Now here’s the gold – Monday the 21st and Tuesday the 22nd. Monday morning: 7ft NW groundswell, long 14-second period, light offshore wind (6 mph from the NE), and the energy is pumping at 1902. The score says it’s excellent for experienced surfers, and I agree – that’s a proper groundswell, so it’ll wrap in nicely. The caveat: at 7ft, it’s big and powerful, so only for those who know what they’re doing. Tuesday morning: similar story – 8ft NW at 13 seconds, clean with a light cross-offshore wind, energy at 1847. That’s two mornings of serious, quality surf. These are the standouts.
Wednesday the 23rd morning pulls back a bit – 6ft NW at 11 seconds, completely glassy with no wind. Energy at 690. That’s a very good session for intermediates and up, cleaner than the days before.
From Thursday the 24th onward, it fades. Swell drops below 4ft, winds turn cross-onshore, and by the weekend of the 27th it’s back to lumpy, with strong onshores. The 27th afternoon shows a 4ft NW swell with a very long 16-second period and energy at 880, but the wind is a strong 28 mph cross-onshore – messy, not worth it.
Best on offer: Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd mornings. Get out there early, wind is clean, swell is solid and long-period. This is the real deal.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastMostly dry. Warm (max 26°C on Sun morning, min 19°C on Mon night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Very mild (max 19°C on Tue morning, min 17°C on Tue night). Winds increasing (moderate winds from the NNW on Tue morning, near gales from the N by Wed night). | ||||||||||||||||||||
Saturday 12 | Sunday 13 | Monday 14 | Tuesday 15 | Wednesday 16 | Thursday 17 | Friday 18 | |||||||||||||||
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 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 13 | NW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 8 | NW 16 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
111 | 111 | 97 | 250 | 330 | 433 | 233 | 162 | 134 | 58 | 68 | 627 | 1658 | 1895 | 1887 | 866 | 903 | 893 | 714 | 500 | 1140 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross | cross-on | cross | cross-off | cross-on | cross | glassy | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross |
High Tide | 4:08PM3.11m | 4:29AM2.90m | 4:44PM2.99m | 5:03AM2.81m | 5:19PM2.80m | 5:36AM2.68m | 5:54PM2.57m | 6:10AM2.50m | 6:31PM2.32m | 6:48AM2.31m | 7:14PM2.08m | 7:37AM2.11m | 8:15PM1.88m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 10:19PM-0.02m | 10:30AM0.08m | 10:52PM0.10m | 11:05AM0.19m | 11:23PM0.28m | 11:40AM0.36m | 11:55PM0.49m | 12:17PM0.56m | 00:29AM0.71m | 12:58PM0.78m | 1:10AM0.93m | 1:54PM0.99m | 2:10AM1.11m | ||||||||
7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:16 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:18 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | 7:20 | — | — | |
— | 7:52 | — | — | 7:50 | — | — | 7:47 | — | — | 7:46 | — | — | 7:45 | — | — | 7:44 | — | — | 7:42 | — | |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 22 | 23 | 21 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 13 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | WNW 9 | NW 13 | NW 12 | NW 12 | NW 11 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NW 11 | WNW 10 | S 13 | S 12 | WNW 12 | NNW 9 | S 12 | SW 16 | NNW 9 | NW 14 | NW 16 |
111 | 111 | 65 | 250 | 330 | 433 | 233 | 162 | 134 | 58 | 33 | 94 | 3 | 3 | 218 | 866 | 3 | 10 | 714 | 66 | 1140 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | NW 15 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | W 9 | S 10 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | S 13 | S 13 | — | S 12 | WNW 11 | S 16 | S 11 | NW 16 | NW 18 | SW 14 |
54 | 68 | 83 | 54 | 38 | 10 | 20 | 39 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 3 | 3 | — | 3 | 323 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 53 | 8 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | S 13 | NW 18 | WNW 11 | W 9 | NW 8 | S 11 | WNW 9 | S 11 | S 10 | WNW 12 | S 10 | — | — | — | — | S 12 | — | S 11 | SW 15 | SW 14 | NW 16 |
3 | 12 | 12 | 40 | 32 | 2 | 26 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | 2 | 9 | 8 | 127 | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | — | NNW 7 | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 4 | NNW 4 | NNW 5 | NNW 7 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | NNW 10 | NNE 3 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 | — | NNW 8 | NNW 8 |
— | — | 97 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 11 | 9 | 68 | 627 | 1658 | 1895 | 1887 | 1 | 903 | 893 | — | 500 | 352 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 11 | 16 | 14 | 0 | 62 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 823 | 222 | 720 | 420 | 129 | 15 | 439 | 115 | 22 | 206 | 15 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
- Map Icons:
Break
Live Wave Height (m)
Live Wind Speed (km/h)
Surf Rating (10 Max)
Ocean Swells (m)
Wind Speed (km/h)
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.










