Praiao Surf Forecast and Surf Report

G’day, Rusty here, and we’ve got a mixed bag of a forecast for our local zone. We’ve got a few decent windows coming, but plenty of ordinary days to wade through first. Let’s break it down.

The water is sitting at a warm 69°, which is about 2° warmer than normal for this time of year – feels nice, a bit of a treat.

The first real surf worth talking about doesn’t hit until Saturday, 10 August. The week leading up to it is a write-off with tiny, weak swell and tricky cross-onshore winds. You’d be better off waxing your board at home.

Saturday, 10 August morning is where it finally turns on. Praiao (river) will see a clean 5ft swell from the SSE, with a solid 12-second period. The wind is glassy from the NE, and the combined energy is pumping at 590 (moderate energy). The water is still a touch above average temp. The waves will have some punch, and that long period means proper shaped lines. The spot is fairly consistent, and while crowds can happen, with that size and quality, it’s worth the paddle.

Saturday afternoon holds up at 3ft from the SSE but the wind swings ESE and goes cross-on, making it messier. Still surfable, but the morning is the clear winner.

Sunday, 9 August is a washout – strong SW winds and cross-on crud, with dropping swell. Skip it.

Monday, 10 August hangs in there with 3ft SSE swell but the wind is onshore, so it’s a marginal day. Not terrible, but nothing special.

Tuesday, 11 August and Wednesday, 12 August are poor – onshore winds, light rain, and messy conditions. Not worth your time.

Now, Thursday, 13 August morning is a sneaky little gem. A 4ft swell from the ESE with a short 6-second period, but the wind is dead glassy from the NE. That’s 350 (moderate energy) of clean, glassy surf. The waves will be a bit soft and fat from the short period, but for a Thursday morning session, you could do a lot worse.

Friday, 14 August morning has a 3ft SSE swell with a long 15-second period and light cross-shore wind. The energy is 347 (moderate) and the waves will have that long-period grunt. It’s a bit marginal, but the light wind keeps it tidy.

Saturday, 15 August brings a big jump in energy. The morning has 4ft from the SSE with a 16-second period and light cross-shore wind. The combined energy is a massive 1016 (very strong). This is a serious groundswell. The afternoon bumps up to 5ft from the SSE with 16-second period and 1165 energy. The wind is light cross-on, so it’s not perfect, but the sheer size and power will be impressive. This is definitely one for experienced surfers only – that 5ft+ with long period can be a handful. The waves will be pulsing, and if you’re confident, the rewards could be huge. The morning is the cleaner option.

Sunday, 16 August morning is the absolute standout of the whole outlook. Praiao will see a clean 5ft swell from the SE, with a 13-second period, and the wind is dead calm – glassy perfection. The combined energy is 716 (strong). This is as good as it gets: clean, powerful, and head-high. The wind won’t mess with a single face. The afternoon gets a 5ft from the S with even more energy (1428), but the wind goes cross-on, so the morning is the one to lock in.

Monday, 17 August morning is still fun with a 5ft swell from the E, short 7-second period, but light offshore wind from the NE. The energy is 442 (moderate). It’s a bit choppy from the short period, but clean and pushy.

After that, the following week sees a fade. Tuesday, 18 August through Thursday, 20 August drops off to inconsistent, weak swell with glassy mornings but very small waves. The energy plummets, and it’s just ordinary surfing. Not worth the drive unless you’re desperate for a paddle.

In summary: the best day on offer is Sunday, 16 August morning – glassy, 5ft SE groundswell, strong energy. The backup is Saturday, 15 August morning for the big, powerful long-period swell. Get it while it’s good, because the second week fades out fast.

Rusty.

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