Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's get straight into it. We've got a pretty lean 16-day stretch ahead for Praia das Macas, and I'll be honest with you, it's not looking like a classic setup. There's a long gap with no real swell to speak of before we get a tiny window of something rideable, so be patient.

The outlook kicks off on Saturday, 1st August, but don't get your hopes up. The swell is small and weak with a combined energy of just 155. The wind is a moderate cross-onshore breeze from the North, making it choppy. Water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is about average for this time of year. It's a similar story right through the first week and into the next – the swell is puny, the wind is mostly cross-on or onshore, and the conditions are just poor. We've got a solid block of days with no real surf until we get to the middle of the second week. After that, the swell does start to build, but it's constantly plagued by cross-onshore winds, lumpy and messy seas, and scores that don't inspire any confidence.

The only real standout, believe it or not, comes on the morning of Wednesday, 12th August. The wind drops to nothing – glassy conditions – and combined energy reaches a moderate 190. The swell is a small 4 ft from the NNW, but with a short period of just 6 seconds, it's going to be a bit weak and mushy. The comment says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions," which is about as good as it gets. If you're a beginner, this is your window. The water is flat calm, the waves are small, and it's about as safe as it gets. But this is a one-off, and the afternoon goes back to poor conditions.

The following day, Thursday 13th August, has a similar size swell at 4 ft from the NNW, but it's back to a light cross-onshore breeze and small ripples. The energy is up to 261, but it's still only rated as marginal. Other than that, the rest of the forecast period is a write-off. The surf just isn't on for the most part. For a spot that's usually consistent, this is a dry spell. The swell gets bigger in the weekend of the 15th and 16th, hitting 6 ft, but the wind is a strong breeze, making it a messy, lumpy mess. That's more of a kite-surfing or windsurfing setup than a paddle-surfing one.

So, to sum it up: don't hold your breath. There's a single, very brief window of glassy, surfable waves on the morning of Wednesday the 12th of August. Everything else is a fight against the wind. It's a tough outlook, but it can change. Keep an eye on it.

Rusty.

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