Praia do Pinho Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s talk in feet and miles per hour. This is Rusty, and I’m looking at the next couple of weeks for Praia do Pinho. It’s a mixed bag, with a lot of waiting and a few moments that could deliver.

First up, we’ve got a bit of a slow start. The early part of the week is surfable but very ordinary. Wednesday morning the 5th brings small 2ft swell from the ENE with a short 7-second period, and the wind is cross-off, keeping things clean. The combined energy is weak (90), so it’s not going to get your heart racing. The water is sitting at 66°, which is about average for this time of year.

Wednesday afternoon actually goes glassy, with zero wind. That’s a major positive for clean conditions, but the swell is still tiny. Thursday and Friday stay small, with the swell creeping up to 3ft by Friday morning, still from the ENE. The wind holds cross-off, so it’s rideable but nothing to write home about.

Then we hit a bit of a shift. Saturday the 8th sees a new swell from the SE, with a longer 14-second period pushing the combined energy into moderate territory (251 to 332). Saturday morning is a bit messy with light cross-onshore wind, but Saturday afternoon cleans up nicely with a light cross-off breeze and clean conditions. The swell is still only 3ft, but the longer period means better shape. This is a solid option for a small-wave session.

Sunday the 9th is a write-off. Light rain, cross-shore wind at 12 mph, and a lumpy 4ft SSE swell with a short period. Just not worth it.

Monday the 10th and Tuesday the 11th are marginal. The swell drops back to 2ft to 3ft, with a longer 13-second period, but the wind is mostly cross-off, keeping it clean. The energy is moderate (121 to 312), but the waves are just too small to get excited about.

The best stretch of the outlook starts Wednesday the 12th. Wednesday morning gives us 3ft SE swell, 12-second period, and light cross-off wind. The combined energy is moderate (210) and the conditions are clean. Wednesday afternoon is even better, with the same swell but near-calm wind. This is a good, clean session.

Thursday the 13th brings a shift back to an ENE swell, but this time with a short 7-second period. The swell bumps up to 4ft in the morning, with cross-off wind and clean conditions. The energy is moderate (210). This is another solid option.

Friday the 14th gets a bit bigger, with a 6ft SE swell, but the period drops to 7 seconds and the wind is cross-shore at 6 to 12 mph. The combined energy is moderate, but the conditions are choppy and messy. Not great.

Now, the standout for the whole forecast is the weekend of the 15th and 16th. Saturday the 15th morning has a 4ft SE swell with a very long 16-second period, pushing the combined energy to a strong 834. The wind is light and onshore, which is a bit of a bummer, but that’s a lot of water moving. The same for Saturday afternoon, with a 14-second period and 717 energy. The wind is cross-onshore, so it’s not perfect, but the groundswell potential is huge. This is a long-range promise, so keep an eye on it.

Monday the 17th is another highlight. The morning goes glassy with a 5ft ENE swell and a short 7-second period. The combined energy is moderate (291). The glassy wind is a major positive, making for clean, fun waves. The afternoon picks up a little more energy (500) but the wind turns cross-shore, creating a bit of chop.

Tuesday the 18th and Wednesday the 19th both have 5ft to 6ft ENE swell, with periods from 8 to 9 seconds. The wind is cross-off or offshore, and the conditions are clean. The combined energy ranges from moderate to strong (307 to 554). Wednesday morning is the pick of this run, with offshore wind and clean conditions. This is good for experienced surfers, as the swell is over 5ft.

Thursday the 20th tails off back to 3ft and smaller, with clean conditions but nothing special.

So, if you’re asking me, the real standouts are the long-period groundswell on the 15th and 16th – that’s a big, powerful swell from the SE, but the wind is a bit tricky. For a cleaner, more reliable session, I’d be looking at Wednesday the 12th, or Monday the 17th with that glassy morning. The water is average temperature, and Praia do Pinho is an exposed beach, so it can get crowded sometimes. For the big days on the 15th and 16th, with that 4ft swell and very long period, the waves will have plenty of energy but might break a bit straight at the beach – keep that in mind.

Rusty.

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