Praia do Frances Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, Rusty here, let's talk about what's on offer for the next couple of weeks.

Straight up, I gotta be honest with you – this is a tough one. The outlook for the next 16 days is pretty grim. While there’s always some energy in the water, the conditions are just not cooperating. It’s a real stretch of poor surf, and I’m not seeing any solid windows for a proper session.

The only spot we’ve got to look at is Praia do Frances. It’s a beach and reef setup that’s very consistent, but that’s where the good news ends. The water temp is sitting at 80°, which is about average for this time of year.

Let’s run through it. Starting today, Tuesday the 4th of August, we’ve got some clouds and a stiff onshore breeze from the SE at 12 mph. The swell is a mixed bag, with a chest-high 5 ft SE swell but a short, weak period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is moderate (366), but the wind is just ruining any chance of a clean wave. It’s the same story for the afternoon – a smaller 3 ft SSE swell with a bit more period, but the wind is still on it.

Wednesday the 5th looks similar. Rain showers and a SE wind at 9 mph. The swell is around 4 ft from the SE with a 10-second period, giving us moderate energy (468), but it’s all blown out. Afternoon clears up but the wind stays onshore, so no dice.

Thursday the 6th and Friday the 7th see the wind swing more easterly, becoming a cross-onshore breeze. The swell drops off into the waist-high range, around 3 ft to 4 ft, with short periods. The combined energy drops too (169 to 211). It’s just a choppy, messy affair.

The weekend isn’t any kinder. Saturday the 8th has a moderate cross-onshore wind at 12 mph, making things choppy. A tiny 2 ft S swell with a long 13-second period shows up in the afternoon, but the energy is weak (198) and the wind is messy. Sunday the 9th brings the risk of thunderstorms and the same cross-onshore wind. The swell is a weak 4 ft from the SE with a very short 7-second period. This is uninspiring.

The following week, from the 10th to the 14th, offers very little. Swell heights are mostly in the 2 ft to 3 ft range, with a mix of short periods and a few longer period S swells. The wind is almost always a cross-onshore breeze, keeping the surface messy. There’s a brief moment of moderate energy (653) on the afternoon of Thursday the 13th with a 3 ft S swell, but the wind is onshore.

The second week, from the 15th onward, is more of the same. Small swells from the S, with periods between 11 and 14 seconds, but the wind is almost always a cross-onshore from the E or ESE. The energy is moderate (250 to 454), but the quality is just not there. Even on the 15th, when the wind drops to a light breeze in the morning, it’s still a cross-onshore, so it’s just a slightly smaller mess.

Honestly, for the whole 16-day window, there’s not a single standout. The wind is just relentless. The best you could hope for is a quick paddle on a very small, clean shoulder, but the data says it’s all poor. With the consistent onshore flow and the beachy setup, this might be one of those rare times where the coast looks more interesting for a kite surfer than a paddle surfer.

Keep the board waxed and wait for the next system. Forecasts can change, but right now, it’s a write-off.

Rusty.

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