Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 23 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Tuesday 25 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period, W swell with glassy winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 28 Aug, 7PM (local time) - 7.5ft (2.3m), 11s period, NW swell with 1,154 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Tuesday 25 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.5m), 7s period with W 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 Tuesday (Aug 25) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.5m and 7s period with a secondary swell of 0.2m 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 2.3m 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 1.6m 6s period and expected on Sunday (Aug 23) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Tue 25th Aug) | 5ft (1.5m) 7s |
| Most Powerful | 7PM (Fri 28th Aug) | 7.5ft (2.3m) 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 Praia das Macas has cooking for us over the next couple of weeks.
Honestly, I'm looking at this forecast and feeling a bit bummed for you. We've got a long stretch of poor conditions ahead. The wind is nearly always from the wrong direction for this spot, coming cross-onshore or onshore most days, which is going to chop things up. It's not until Tuesday, the 25th, that we see a real window of opportunity.
The standout session, and really the only one worth paddling out for, is Tuesday morning, the 25th of August. We’re looking at a 5ft swell from the west, with a period of 7 seconds. The real kicker here is the wind – glassy conditions from the SSW at just 3 mph. That’s a major positive, meaning the surface will be clean. The combined swell energy is a modest 208, so it’s not going to be pumping, but for a beginner-friendly beach break, the clean conditions will make it fun and manageable. Expect crowds, as it's a consistent spot and a weekday won't stop the locals from getting in.
After that, it’s a real bummer. From Tuesday afternoon all the way through to the end of the period on the 7th of September, it's just poor surf conditions day after day. The winds are almost always onshore or cross-onshore, gusting up to 25 mph at times, which will create lumpy, messy, choppy waves. There’s a pulse of bigger swell around the 28th and 29th of August, with the combined energy climbing into the 900s and 1000s, but with a moderate to fresh cross-onshore wind, it’s going to be blown out. Even with a 7ft NW swell, the quality just won't be there.
Because of the persistent onshore winds, the setup here looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing during most of that second week.
So, to put it simply: if you can, hit it on Tuesday morning the 25th for a glassy session. After that, it’s a long wait with no real standouts until the 7th of September, which also looks poor.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastHeavy rain (total 20mm), heaviest during Sun morning. Warm (max 22°C on Sun afternoon, min 20°C on Sat night). Winds decreasing (fresh winds from the SSE on Sun morning, calm by Mon night). | Days 4-6 Weather SummaryLight rain (total 4mm), mostly falling on Wed morning. Warm (max 21°C on Tue night, min 19°C on Thu night). Mainly fresh winds. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sunday 23 | Monday 24 | Tuesday 25 | Wednesday 26 | Thursday 27 | Friday 28 | Saturday 29 | |||||||||||||||
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) | WNW 11 | W 10 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 6 | W 6 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | NNW 9 | NW 9 |
Wave Graph | |||||||||||||||||||||
698 | 563 | 791 | 696 | 599 | 311 | 198 | 143 | 79 | 86 | 115 | 243 | 307 | 327 | 538 | 944 | 1028 | 989 | 638 | 480 | 186 | |
Wind (km/h) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-off | cross-off | cross-off | cross | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | cross-on | cross | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross | cross-on | cross-on |
High Tide | 12:30PM2.12m | 1:04AM2.05m | 1:21PM2.30m | 1:47AM2.21m | 2:01PM2.49m | 2:23AM2.38m | 2:35PM2.67m | 2:55AM2.53m | 3:07PM2.82m | 3:27AM2.65m | 3:38PM2.93m | 3:58AM2.73m | 4:10PM2.98m | ||||||||
Low Tide | 6:08AM1.05m | 6:56PM0.90m | 7:05AM0.89m | 7:41PM0.72m | 7:46AM0.71m | 8:17PM0.54m | 8:21AM0.53m | 8:49PM0.37m | 8:53AM0.37m | 9:20PM0.23m | 9:25AM0.25m | 9:51PM0.13m | 9:56AM0.18m | 10:21PM0.08m | |||||||
6:58 | — | — | 6:58 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:00 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | |
— | 8:22 | — | — | 8:21 | — | — | 8:19 | — | — | 8:17 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:15 | — | — | 8:13 | — | |
mm | 6 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Temp °C | 20 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 19 |
Feels °C | 15 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 16 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | WNW 11 | W 10 | N 8 | N 8 | WSW 8 | W 7 | W 7 | WNW 7 | WNW 7 | W 9 | SW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | SW 11 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | NW 11 | NW 10 | NW 10 | S 10 | NW 9 |
698 | 563 | 10 | 5 | 599 | 311 | 198 | 143 | 79 | 2 | 5 | 243 | 307 | 5 | 538 | 944 | 1028 | 989 | 638 | 2 | 186 | |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 6 | N 8 | SSW 13 | SW 13 | NNW 8 | N 8 | N 7 | N 7 | W 10 | NW 10 | NW 9 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | SW 11 | S 10 | — | — | S 10 | — | S 12 |
47 | 33 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | 3 | |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | N 8 | SSW 13 | N 8 | SW 13 | SW 13 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | SW 12 | W 9 | SW 11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
50 | 17 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SSE 4 | SSW 6 | WSW 9 | WSW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | W 6 | W 6 | — | — | WNW 8 | — | — | — | — | — | NNW 9 | NNW 5 |
31 | 154 | 791 | 696 | — | — | — | — | — | 86 | 115 | — | — | 327 | — | — | — | — | — | 480 | 48 | |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | |||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 127 | 178 | 127 | 426 | 261 | 21 | 0 | 62 | 62 | 127 | 504 | 136 | 127 | 203 | 14 | 14 | 222 | 14 | 14 | 425 | 30 |
Best forecast wave conditions in Lisboa | |||||||||||||||||||||
Best forecast wave conditions in Portugal | |||||||||||||||||||||
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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.











