Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

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

Right off the bat, I gotta be straight with you: the first week is a tough one. We’re looking at a real dry spell for quality waves. The water temp is sitting at 68°F, which is about 1°F cooler than usual for this time of year, so pretty average, nothing weird going on there.

Starting this Saturday, September 5th, we’ve got tiny swell around 3ft from the WNW with a period of 9 seconds, but the wind is a messy cross-onshore. The energy is weak (121), and the report is calling it poor surf conditions. Sunday the 6th sees the swell bump up to 4ft from the NW with a better 12-second period, and the energy jumps to moderate (538), but that wind swings cross-shore and then fresh cross-onshore in the afternoon, ruining any chance of clean waves. Monday the 7th keeps the 5ft WNW swell going with a solid 12-second period (energy 863), but again, the wind is a problem – cross-shore in the morning, then a strong cross-onshore in the arvo. This pattern of onshore junk continues all the way through the rest of the week. Tuesday through to the following Monday (the 14th) is just a parade of cross-onshore winds and lumpy, choppy conditions. The swell size fluctuates between 3ft and 7ft, but the quality is consistently poor. There’s a stretch here of over a week where there’s nothing worth paddling out for.

Now, hang in there, because things start to look up around Tuesday, September 15th. That morning, we finally get a decent window. The swell is 7ft from the NNW with an 8-second period, and the energy is strong (779). The wind switches to a light cross-offshore breeze, and the report says “clean.” This is the standout of the whole outlook – the best conditions for a proper session, but keep in mind that 7ft is starting to get a bit hefty for beginners. Wednesday the 16th morning is also interesting with a 8ft NNW swell (energy a massive 1533), but the wind is a light cross-shore, and the report calls it “marginal.” That 8ft size is pushing into expert-only territory, especially with that short 8-second period that can make it a bit walled up and tricky. The wind is light, so it might be clean enough for the experienced crew.

After that little burst of energy, the last few days of the forecast fade out. Friday the 18th and Saturday the 19th drop back down to 5ft and then 3ft, with the wind finally turning offshore on Saturday morning (ESE at 6 mph). It’s small and clean, but very ordinary. Sunday the 20th is tiny at 2ft.

So the bottom line: the first week is a write-off. The best bet by a long shot is the morning of Tuesday, September 15th. It’s not perfect, but it’s the only time the wind and swell come together for something worth getting wet for.

Rusty.

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