Surf Forecasts:
Praia das Macas surf forecast from 17 Aug 2026:
- Best quality surf: Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period, NNW swell with cross-offshore winds.
- Most powerful swell: Friday 21 Aug, 4PM (local time) - 5.5ft (1.7m), 10s period, NNW swell with 590 kJ wave energy.
- Next surfable swell (1★+): Monday 17 Aug, 7AM (local time) - 5ft (1.6m), 8s period with NNW 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 Monday (Aug 17) at 7AM. The primary swell is predicted to be 1.6m and 8s period with a secondary swell of 0.1m and 7s. The wind is predicted to be cross-offshore as the swell arrives.
The most powerful waves expected at Praia das Macas in the next 16 days are 1.7m 10s and forecast to arrive on Friday (Aug 21) at 4PM. Winds are predicted to be cross-onshore at the time the swell arrives. The largest open ocean swell (not directed at the beach) is 0.5m 3s period and expected on Saturday (Aug 22) at 1PM.
| Wave Type | Time (WEST) & Date | Wave Height & Period |
|---|---|---|
| Next good surf (1 star+) | 7AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Best Surf | 7AM (Mon 17th Aug) | 5ft (1.6m) 8s |
| Most Powerful | 4PM (Fri 21st Aug) | 5.5ft (1.7m) 10s |
Table - best surf conditions forecast for Praia das Macas over the next 16 days.
The Lowdown
But let's talk about what we've actually got. The only break on the roster is Praia das Macas. It’s rated for beginners, fairly consistent, exposed to the swell. The optimum swell direction here is NW, and what we’re seeing is mostly NNW, so it’s a bit off-angle, but still getting plenty of push. The water temp is sitting around 20°C with an anomaly of -0.7°, so pretty average for this time of year, nothing weird there.
Looking at the whole 16-day window, there is no solid recommendation anywhere. From August 16 all the way to August 31, the scores are all zeros except for the odd “2” on that Monday morning, August 17, and Tuesday morning, August 18. That Tuesday morning, August 18, is the closest we get to something surfable: clean conditions, cross-offshore wind from the south at 15 km/h, and 1.5m swell from the NNW with period 8 seconds. Combined energy is moderate at 294. But then the afternoon goes to junk again. After the 19th, the swell drops to under a meter, the energy falls into the 100s, and the wind just stays messy. From the 20th onward, the energy climbs back up but the wind is consistently cross-onshore or lumpy.
The best bet – if you can call it that – is Monday morning, August 17. That glassy spell with 1.7m from the NNW is the cleanest window in the whole outlook. It’s not big, not long-period, but it’s clean. Nothing else comes close. The rest of the time, it’s blown out or too small.
Given the conditions, if you're really keen on getting wet, Praia das Macas (Portugal) on that Monday morning is your only shot. But don’t expect much. This is a pretty blank run for the area. Surf forecasts can change, but right now, August is looking tough.
Stay patient, keep an eye on the sky.
Rusty.
Short Range ForecastSome drizzle, heaviest during Mon afternoon. Warm (max 24°C on Mon morning, min 20°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 5-7 Weather SummaryMostly dry. Warm (max 22°C on Wed afternoon, min 19°C on Thu afternoon). Winds increasing (light winds from the NNW on Wed night, fresh winds from the NNW by Thu night). | |||||||||||||||||||
Sun 16 | Monday 17 | Tuesday 18 | Wednesday 19 | Thursday 20 | Friday 21 | Saturday 22 | ||||||||||||||
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) | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NW 11 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | NNW 9 |
Wave Graph  | ||||||||||||||||||||
 kJ | 372 | 226 | 344 | 291 | 207 | 284 | 250 | 172 | 99 | 97 | 50 | 91 | 314 | 334 | 273 | 590 | 339 | 275 | 237 | 262 |
Wind (km/h) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Wind State on-shore cross-onshore cross-shore cross-offshore off-shore glassy | cross-on | cross-on | glassy | on | glassy | cross-off | cross | glassy | cross | on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-on | cross-off |
High Tide | 5:53PM2.90m | 6:15AM2.62m | 6:32PM2.65m | 6:54AM2.45m | 7:13PM2.39m | 7:37AM2.27m | 8:01PM2.14m | 8:29AM2.10m | 9:05PM1.94m | 9:44AM1.98m | 10:36PM1.85m | 11:16AM1.99m | 00:04AM1.90m | |||||||
Low Tide | 00:04AM0.23m | 12:15PM0.37m | 00:40AM0.45m | 12:56PM0.58m | 1:18AM0.68m | 1:42PM0.79m | 2:03AM0.90m | 2:42PM0.98m | 3:06AM1.07m | 4:10PM1.09m | 4:41AM1.14m | 5:49PM1.05m | ||||||||
 |  | |  | | | | | | | |  | | | | | | | |  | |
 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — |
 | 8:31 | — | — | 8:30 | — | — | 8:29 | — | — | 8:28 | — | — | 8:25 | — | — | 8:24 | — | — | 8:22 | — |
mm | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 |
Temp °C | 23 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 21 |
Feels °C | 21 | 20 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
Swell 1 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | SW 16 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 8 | NNW 7 | NNW 6 | WNW 9 | WNW 9 | NW 12 | NW 11 | WNW 8 | NNW 10 | NNW 10 | NNW 9 | W 8 |
| kJ | 11 | 226 | 344 | 291 | 207 | 284 | 250 | 172 | 99 | 97 | 47 | 44 | 45 | 114 | 268 | 24 | 339 | 275 | 237 | 64 |
Swell 2 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | WNW 8 | SW 15 | W 9 | WNW 8 | W 8 | WSW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 8 | WNW 10 | WNW 9 | SSW 13 | SSW 13 | WNW 9 | WNW 8 | W 12 | W 8 | W 8 | W 9 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | — | 6 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 20 | 50 | 17 | 17 | 26 | 24 | 25 | 35 | 33 | 103 | 19 |
Swell 3 Height (m) Direction Period (s) | — | SW 15 | SW 18 | SW 15 | SSW 16 | SSW 16 | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | SSW 14 | SSW 13 | — | SW 16 | SSW 15 | SSW 15 | SSW 14 | WNW 11 | WNW 10 | S 4 | SSW 14 |
| kJ | — | 9 | 12 | 9 | 26 | 24 | 38 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 17 | — | 10 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 40 | 33 | 4 | 19 |
Wind waves Height (m) Direction Period (s) | NNW 8 | — | — | — | — | S 3 | SSW 2 | — | — | — | — | NNW 6 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 7 | NNW 10 | — | SSE 2 | S 4 | NNW 9 |
| kJ | 372 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 91 | 314 | 334 | 273 | 590 | — | 1 | 7 | 262 |
Nearest Offshore or Glassy | ||||||||||||||||||||
Distance (km) | 177 | 20 | 0 | 206 | 0 | 0 | 722 | 0 | 1 | 186 | 14 | 15 | 449 | 285 | 227 | 353 | 14 | 14 | 420 | 9 |
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.
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