Praia das Macas Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright folks, Rusty here. I'm not gonna lie, this is a tough stretch to look at for Praia das Macas. The wind forecast is a real problem for the next week and a half. It's mostly onshore or a messy cross-shore, chewing up whatever swell we get. For paddle surfing, it's going to feel like a long dry spell.

Starting from Wednesday the 2nd through the end of the first week, it's pretty much a write-off. We get a 4ft swell on Wednesday with an 8-second period, but it's blowing a moderate fresh breeze from the north, making it a cross-onshore chop. Thursday and Friday are smaller, with the swell dropping to 2-3ft. Friday morning does get a brief clean look with a cross-offshore breeze from the NE, but the swell is only 2ft from the WNW. It's glassy but tiny and lacking any real push.

There's a tiny tease on Saturday the 5th. In the morning we get a light offshore from the SE at 6 mph, which is glassy. We get a 3ft WNW swell with a 9-second period. The report says "surfable waves but very ordinary conditions." The combined swell energy is moderate at 145. You could paddle around on a log, but it's barely a ripple.

Then the wind picks right back up. Sunday the 6th brings a 4ft NW swell with a longer 12-second period, which would be promising, but it's paired with a gentle cross-onshore breeze that's already messing it up. The energy is moderate at 484, but it's wasted. Monday the 7th is a killer: a 4ft groundswell at 13 seconds (the longest period of the run) but a fresh 19 mph cross-shore wind turns it into a lumpy, cross-chop mess. The energy jumps to 720, but the quality is atrocious.

We get a bit of heavy water in the second week. Tuesday the 8th shows 7ft of NNW swell at 10 seconds, but it's getting hammered by strong 25 mph cross-onshore winds. That's a recipe for closeouts and a washing machine. The next few days are the same story: fresh cross-onshore winds with swells between 5ft and 6ft. The energy numbers are in the hundreds, but the reports just keep saying "poor surf conditions."

Here's the one window that looks worth waiting for. On Monday the 14th, the morning shows a strong 28 mph offshore wind from the east. That's the first real offshore of the forecast. The swell is a solid 7ft from the NNW at 9 seconds. The energy is a strong 972. The report says it's "clean but hard to paddle into." That wind is powerful, and with a 9-second period, it's going to be a wrestle to get out, and the waves might close out a bit. It's a raw, gnarly day for experts only.

But the standout is the next day. Tuesday the 15th morning is the winner. The wind swings to a light 6 mph offshore from the ESE. The swell is 6ft from the NNW, period still short at 8 seconds, but that light offshore wind is the key. The report says "expect good surf conditions." Combined energy is moderate at 437. 6ft is a proper size, not for beginners, but for anyone who can handle it, it'll be clean and fun. This is the morning to circle on the calendar.

Finally, Wednesday the 16th morning offers a clean but tiny option. A 2ft swell from the west with a very long 12-second period. Under a light E cross-off breeze, it'll be glassy. The energy is moderate at 276. Great for a longboard if you feel like a cruise, but nothing to get excited about for the main break.

Bottom line: don't plan on much until the 15th. The 14th is for hardcore locals only with the strong offshore. The real best bet is Tuesday the 15th morning for the best combination of size and clean conditions.

Water temp data is missing from the file, so I can't give you that detail.

Rusty.

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