Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let’s talk about what’s shaping up at Praia das Macas. It’s a bit of a tease this next week and a half – we’ve got some swell on the way, but the wind is going to be a real pain for a while. You’ll have to be patient if you want a clean one.

The first week is pretty much a write-off for good surfing. From Tuesday, the 8th, right through to the end of Friday, the 12th, it’s onshore trash. The wind is blowing hard from the north, cross-on, and the surf is just a mess. We’re looking at 3ft to 7ft of short-period slop, with the combined energy sitting between 156 and 788 – that’s moderate wave energy, but it’s all blown out. It’s not worth paddling out for. By Saturday the 12th, the wind finally drops to a gentle breeze, but it’s still cross-shore and the waves are only 5ft to 6ft and a bit lumpy. It’s a marginal call at best.

Now, Sunday the 13th is the first real stand-out. The morning is going to be absolute glass. The wind goes dead calm, with a slight air, and the waves are 5ft from the NNW with a 9-second period. The combined energy jumps to 702 (moderate to strong), and the word is "glassy." That’s the kind of session you wait for – clean, lined up, and all to yourself. The water temperature is about average for this time of year, so no worries there.

Monday the 14th morning is also a cracker, with glassy conditions again, 4ft swell from the NW and a 12-second period. That’s a nice long-period groundswell, which will wrap in well here. The energy is 452 (moderate). After that, the wind turns onshore again through the middle of the week, and the quality drops right off.

The next real window opens up on Thursday the 17th. The morning has a light cross-onshore breeze with 5ft of NW swell, period 11 seconds, and strong energy at 742. It’s marginal, but it’s close. The afternoon gets bigger, 7ft, but the wind goes onshore and the energy hits 847 – that’s a lot of water moving, but the wind is a problem.

The true standout of the whole forecast, however, is the morning of Friday the 18th. The wind swings to a light cross-offshore from the SSE, the swell is 6ft from the NNW with an 8-second period, and the energy is 651 (strong). The conditions are described as "clean." That’s your best bet. It’s a solid, punchy swell with clean faces. It’s a beginner-friendly size at 6ft, so it’s fun for everyone, but be aware the break is exposed and can get busy.

The following Saturday the 19th morning is also clean with a light cross-offshore, but the swell drops to 3ft, period 11 seconds, and energy at 434 – it’s a good, clean longboard wave. Then Sunday the 20th morning is back to glassy with 3ft of long-period NW swell (13 seconds), which will be a bit too straight for the beach break but could be fun.

The second week gets a bit wild. Monday the 21st afternoon sees a massive 5ft swell from the NW with a 17-second period, and the energy goes through the roof at 1141 (very strong). But the wind is a fresh cross-onshore gale, so it’s totally blown out. Tuesday the 22nd is even bigger – 7ft with a 14-second period, and energy at 1590 (very strong), but the wind is a near-gale from the north. That’s a no-go for surfing, but if you’ve got a kite, that’s your playground.

So, to wrap it up: the best two sessions are the glassy Sunday morning on the 13th and the clean, cross-offshore Friday morning on the 18th. Get on those.

Rusty.

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