Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 26 Aug 2026:
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 8ft (2.4m), 11s period, NW swell with 1,291 kJ wave energy.
Best Forecast Surf Conditions for Praia das Macas this week:
The most powerful waves expected at Praia das Macas in the next 16 days are 2.4m 11s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 28) at 7PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.2m 16s period and expected on Tuesday (Sep 01) at 7AM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | - | - |
| Best Surf | - | - |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 8ft (2.4m) 11s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
Alright folks, Rusty here. Let's have a look at what's on the cards for the Praia das Macas region over the next couple of weeks.
Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you – it’s a tough stretch. The first week is pretty much a write-off for decent surf. The swell shows up but the wind is just shocking. We’ve got a consistent westerly and north-northwesterly wind direction that’s blowing cross-on or onshore for days on end, lumping everything up. From Wednesday the 26th of August right through to the end of the month, it’s a mess. The waves are there, sometimes pushing 7 ft on Thursday the 27th, but with 19 mph winds onto it, it’s just blown-out slop. The combined wave energy gets up there, hitting 497 (moderate) and even 1042 (strong) on Friday the 28th, but with the wind, that energy is wasted. You’d be fighting a losing battle.
That run of poor conditions stretches into the first week of September too. The wind stays cranking out of the north, mostly 19-25 mph, keeping everything cross-onshore and choppy. On Tuesday the 1st of September, we see 7 ft at 9 seconds from the NNW, but with a strong breeze at 25 mph, it’s messy and not worth paddling out.
We do get a tiny glimmer of hope on Monday the 7th of September. The morning shows a solid 4 ft groundswell from the NW, with a period of 14 seconds – that's a proper long-period groundswell. This means more energy and shape from the swell, but it's tricky at a beach break like this. That long period can make it wall up and break straight. Still, the wind is only 9 mph and cross-shore, making for the cleanest conditions we’ll see in the whole 16-day window. The combined swell energy is a massive 1116 (strong). It’s rated as marginal due to tide, but this is the standout morning, and it’s still a week and a half away, so treat it as promising but not locked in. If you had to pick one session, this is it.
After that, it drops back into a familiar pattern of onshore winds and lumpy surf until the very end of the forecast period.
The water temperature is sitting at a pretty average 68°F, which is normal for this time of year.
So, the long story short: there are no clear, clean winners here. We’ve got a massive gap of unusable surf for the first ten days, and just that one Monday morning that’s worth a look. Don’t hold your breath for this stretch.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastModerate rain (total 14mm), heaviest on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Wed morning, min 18°C on Wed night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SW on Wed morning, light winds from the WNW by Fri morning). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 21°C on Sun morning, min 18°C on Sun night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WSW 5 | W 7 | W 8 | W 7 | W 8 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 8 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | NW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
102 | 219 | 341 | 419 | 537 | 690 | 1134 | 1134 | 943 | 461 | 319 | 182 | 163 | 548 | 361 | 179 | 491 | 688 | 659 | 430 | 537 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | on | cross | on | on | on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 2:35PM2.67m | 2:55AM2.53m | 3:07PM2.82m | 3:27AM2.65m | 3:38PM2.93m | 3:58AM2.73m | 4:10PM2.98m | 4:29AM2.78m | 4:42PM2.96m | 5:02AM2.77m | 5:17PM2.89m | 5:38AM2.72m | 5:55PM2.75m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 8:49PM0.37m | 8:53AM0.37m | 9:20PM0.23m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:51PM0.13m | 9:56AM0.18m | 10:21PM0.08m | 10:29AM0.15m | 10:53PM0.10m | 11:03AM0.19m | 11:27PM0.17m | 11:40AM0.27m | 00:04AM0.31m | ||||||||
7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | |
— | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | — | 8:12 | — | — | 8:09 | — | — | 8:08 | — | |
mm | 6 | — | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 18 |
Feels °C | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 12 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 6 | SW 11 | W 8 | SW 11 | SW 11 | WNW 9 | WNW 11 | WNW 11 | NW 10 | NW 9 | S 10 | — | NW 8 | — | NW 10 | NW 9 | SW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 |
15 | 5 | 341 | 5 | 5 | 690 | 1134 | 1134 | 943 | 461 | 2 | — | 163 | — | 361 | 179 | 11 | 10 | 23 | 21 | 21 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NW 10 | — | SW 11 | — | NW 12 | SW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | S 10 | S 10 | — | — | NW 13 | — | S 12 | SW 18 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — |
4 | — | 5 | — | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | — | — | 26 | — | 3 | 12 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | W 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | W 13 | — | — | SW 11 | S 11 | S 10 | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | 5 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WSW 5 | W 7 | — | W 7 | W 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NW 8 | NW 8 | — | NW 11 | N 4 | NNW 5 | NW 9 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 |
102 | 219 | — | 419 | 537 | — | — | — | — | — | 319 | 182 | — | 548 | 9 | 55 | 491 | 688 | 659 | 430 | 537 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 163 | 426 | 62 | 425 | 203 | 14 | 14 | 21 | 14 | 14 | 425 | 14 | 14 | 420 | 14 | 21 | 420 | 222 | 222 | 449 | 129 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
Header Global | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











